“There are big problems and perils at Best Academy. It’s time for clean up.” – Jeff Anderson
(St. Paul, MN) – Today, attorneys will disclose details from a lawsuit filed in Hennepin County District Court against Best Academy Charter School and Abdul Wright, a former teacher and winner of 2016’s Award for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
When: Thursday, March 20th, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Live-streamed on Jeff Anderson & Associates YouTube channel.
From 2016 to 2017, Wright used his position of power and highly regarded reputation as an educator at Best Academy to target, groom, and engage in countless boundary violations of Doe 605. The former teacher of the year took Doe 605 to Timberwolves games, commented on her clothes and body, singled her out and gave Doe 605 special tasks and responsibilities in the classroom, invited Doe 605 and other female students to spend time with him in his classroom during the lunch hour and after classes, and even purchased snacks for the girls. By engaging in this targeted grooming and focus on Doe 605, he manipulated Doe 605 and her family, which ultimately led to Wright’s repeated sexual abuse of Doe 605.
“I think that his status and him being Teacher of the Year really was a reason that a lot of people turned a blind eye. I just don’t think anything that happened was a coincidence. I think it was all premeditated.” – Doe 605
In the summer of 2017, Doe 605’s parents discovered an alarming number of phone calls and text messages between Wright and Doe 605—most of which occurred in the late evening or early morning. After this development, Doe 605’s father requested an in-person meeting with Eric Mahmoud, the founder of Best Academy, and Wright to discuss how the communication between Wright and Doe 605 went far beyond a student/teacher relationship. Neither Mahmoud nor Wright provided an explanation for the worrying communication between Wright and Doe 605.
“Once again, we are sounding the alarm about Best Academy and Eric Mahmoud protecting predators,” said Jeff Anderon. “This time, the father of the student abused by Wright complained directly to Mahmoud – again, Mahmoud took no action.”
This lawsuit follows a recent Minnesota Supreme Court case ruling that Harvest Best Academy can be held legally accountable for the abuse of a student perpetrated by former physical education teacher and coach Aaron Hjermstad. This ruling allows victims of abuse to hold not only the abuser accountable but also the school or institution that employed the abuser.