SCCPSS teacher arrested, charged with grooming a minor for a sexual offense

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) teacher was arrested and charged with grooming a minor for a sexual offense.

The Chatham County Police Department identified the arrested teacher as 32-year-old Jawan Johnson.

Johnson taught 7th grade social studies at New Hampstead K-8.

According to SCCPSS, his employment with the district began in 2012.

He then left in 2019 and returned in 2020, left again in 2022, and now has been at New Hampstead since 2023.

Police say the victim in this case was a previous student of Johnson’s.

Johnson was arrested and charged Sunday evening.

This investigation is active and ongoing, the Chatham County Police Department said no further information will be released at this time.

Following the announcement of the arrest, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System released a statement.

They said they are aware and say, “Pending the outcome of the investigation, Johnson has been reassigned to a non-school based position where there is no student contact.”

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) is aware of the arrest by Chatham County Police of Jawan Johnson and the associated charges. 

Pending the outcome of the investigation, Johnson has been reassigned to a non-school based position where there is no student contact.  SCCPSS appreciates the work of Chatham County Police and is fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation, we want to be clear: our district holds every educator to the highest standards of professional conduct, as stipulated by Board policy and outlined by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.  SCCPSS expects all staff to maintain professional relationships that foster trust, respect, and a secure learning environment. Any behavior that compromises these values is not tolerated and will be addressed swiftly and appropriately.

We encourage our families to rely on official district communications for accurate information. Misinformation can spread quickly, and we remain committed to transparency and timely updates as appropriate.

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS)

WTOC Investigates: SCCPSS policy on staff-student relations, grooming

SCCPSS’s school board has a policy specifically governing staff-student relations, and it outlines what happens when someone is accused of violating it.

The policy covers conduct of a sexual nature, unprofessional conduct, non-educational relationships, and grooming, which Johnson has been charged with.

The policy says that violations can result in discipline up to and including termination, but there’s no hard and fast rule that someone accused of violating the policy be immediately fired. The policy also says a violation may subject the employee to criminal prosecution.

Johnson is innocent until proven guilty in a court, but for now, according to the school system, he has been moved to a non-school based position, with no student contact, pending the outcome of the investigation.

WTOC Investigates has requested Johnson’s personnel file from the school system, as well as the police report from this case.