High school teacher arrested for using fake diploma, transcripts to get hired

Torians Adaryll Hughes, a former teacher in North Carolina, was arrested for using college diploma and transcripts to get hired. (Screenshot: WRAL)
Torians Adaryll Hughes, a former teacher in North Carolina, was arrested for using college diploma and transcripts to get hired. (Screenshot: WRAL)

A convicted felon was hired to teach high students, using a fake diploma and college transcripts.

Torians Adaryll Hughes, a social studies teacher and assistant softball coach at Cleveland High School in Clayton, North Carolina was arrested Thursday by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and reportedly charged with “obtaining property on a false pretense.”

The 40-year-old, who reportedly lacks a teaching certificate, has not achieved an education far beyond his students —according to CBS 17, Hughes did not complete Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and claimed on his job application that his only prior offense was a traffic ticket. Raleigh news station WRAL reports that Hughes has out-of-state felony convictions.

Hughes started working at Cleveland High School in July 2017 as a volunteer coach for the varsity football and softball teams, then served as a non-faculty assistant varsity football coach from August to November. In March 2018, he was promoted to a social studies teaching position and was a faculty assistant coach for the softball team. He left the school in November.

A spokesperson for Johnston County Public Schools sent an explanation to Yahoo Lifestyle.

“...On vetting and hiring: The Human Resources Department takes very seriously the application process for all individuals interested in employment with the school system. As such, the team regularly reviews its processes and procedures for employment. In addition to working with our current background vendor, the department has been communicating with other vendors throughout the state to discuss their processes, procedures and costs. Furthermore, a position within Human Capital was repurposed to hire an Employment Verification Specialist who is devoted to reviewing employment documents and processes for all new employees.

Hughes reportedly has a court date on July 18.

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