APS Superintendent Davis Called to Testify in Cotman Trial; Prosecution Rests

September 3rd, 2013

Erroll B. Davis Jr., member of the General Motors Board of Directors, Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)

Atlanta Public Schools

Today, before the prosecution rested its case against former Atlanta Public Schools executive director Tamara Cotman, current APS superintendent Erroll Davis was called to testify.

Cotman is a former executive director in APS and stands accused of influencing a witness during the state’s investigation into cheating.

WABE’s Rose Scott has more on today’s court proceedings:

Erroll Davis testified that he was courted by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the ASP school board to become interim superintendent.

He told the court, after he read the hundreds of pages in the state’s cheating investigation, he was saddened and angry.

“My belief is that those in leadership positions are responsible for what happens on their watch.”

Among the first items on his agenda, said Davis, was to remove all those educators implicated in the cheating.

Davis read the termination letter sent to Tamara Cotman:

“The specific allegations against you include, but may not be limited to, one, you failed in your responsibility to supervise schools within SRT 4 during the administration of the 2009 CRCT. You failed to adequately supervise testing activities and test security measures. Your failures caused the misrepresentation of the evaluation of students ….” [fade out]

Now the defense is in the process of calling witnesses.

Tuesday, former Garden Hills Elementary school principal Amy Alderman was one of them.

She spoke highly of Cotman:

“She led with a little bit of, um, … intimidation … and … I think … just came across as very … a strong personality … and I also, at the end of the day, know that … it was all just … for me to become a better principal.”

The audio of the story as broadcast.

Wednesday, the defense is expected to finish calling its witnesses.

Defense attorney Benjamin Davis says it’s not clear whether Tamara Cotman will take the stand.

From Fulton County Superior Court, Rose Scott, WABE News.