Former APS Superintendent Dead at 66

Photo Credit: WSB-TV

The former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools who had been embroiled in a scandal involving system-wide cheating allegations has died at the age of 66, WSB-TV reports.

Beverly Hall had been charged with conspiracy and racketeering for her alleged role in the APS cheating scandal, which has involved dozens of teachers at several different Atlanta area schools. Prosecutors claim the teachers, with Hall’s acquiescence or even at Hall’s orders, deliberately changed students’ answers on standardized tests to continue receiving high federal funding.

The seemingly outstanding test scores for APS students earned Hall National Superintendent of the Year in 2009, but she was forced to resign a year later as news of the scandal broke.

Hall was born in Jamaica and began her education career in New York, eventually becoming the head of the City of New York’s public high schools and special education programs. Following a stint as superintendent in Newark, NJ, Hall became head of APS in 1999.

Hall was first diagnosed with cancer in 2004. In 2013, Hall’s oncologist told a judge that her Stage IV breast cancer had spread and she was far too ill to participate in the trial.