Southwest DeKalb track coach suspended

Written By: Champion Staff
5/2/12
Categorized in: DeKalb News

The girls’ varsity track coach at Southwest DeKalb High School has been suspended with pay pending an investigation into alleged inappropriate contact with a student, according to DeKalb County School District spokesman Walter Woods.

Antoinette Tyrell, who has been at Southwest since 2003 and teaches health and physical education, was removed from the classroom immediately after a parent complaint, Woods said in a statement. The district began a two-week investigation after the complaint and the investigation is ongoing, according to the statement.

“Any allegation of this nature is of serious concern to the district,” Woods said. “We are hoping to conclude the investigation as soon as possible and take any necessary action.”

Tyrell began her tenure with the school district in 1999 at Chapel Hill Middle School.

“I would love to comment but I cannot speak until everything is clear,” Tyrell said in a phone interview. “I will be willing to share my story but right now I am not at liberty to speak about anything personal.”

Southwest DeKalb won the Class AAAA girls’ state track championship in 2011 and is participating in the state meet in Albany beginning May 3.

Comments (5)

Michelle Cooper

Said this on 5/6/12 At 06:53 pm

In reply to #3

Correction...it happened Tuesday, April 10th, the week just prior to the Region meet.

Michelle Cooper

Said this on 5/6/12 At 03:57 pm

I am the parent, and I am not lying. Psalms 27...The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Michelle Cooper

Said this on 5/6/12 At 03:55 pm

Their scholarships are very much in tact. The athletes got second place without either of their original coaches, in spite of tremendous pressure to perform in light of the drama that surrounded them. She committed the offense the second day of the region meet. If she cared about her athletes, she would not have done what she did. Winning championships means nothing, if you are killing the spirit of the athletes in the process.

Michelle Cooper

Said this on 5/6/12 At 03:51 pm

In reply to #1

Having a winning track teams does not equate to having an upstanding character. She has anything but an upstanding character. I would describe it as gutter. She did what she is accused of doing, and should not be allowed to do it to anyone else's child in the future. She knew right from wrong, and chose to do wrong, in spite of the possible consequences. That means that she clearly cannot control her urges, and needs to work in a field that does not allow her easy access to children.

Jankita

Said this on 5/5/12 At 10:25 am

I do not know the circumstances of this complaint. But, I do know, that Coach Tyrell is an awesome coach. She has won many championships and helped many girls earn college scholarships on her Track Team. DeKalb School System would be not be righteous, in not allowing her to continue to coach girls Track and Field. There are few women Track coach's that have the dedication, determination and motivation that Coach Tyrell has for her athletes. It is sad that the DeKalb County School System will put one parents compliant above a history of winning and enabling students to acheive college scholarships. To pull her out of coaching before was out before a state championship was not in the best interest of her athletes. All their hard work for this season and college scholarships are now on the line based on one parents compliant. That was not fair to the Coach Tyrell or girls on her Track team. No Weapon formed shall prosper. Isiah 54:17/ If this parent is lying is going to come out.

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