‘No red flags’: Principal speaks out about teacher’s arrest 

Pinellas Preparatory Academy’s principal wants the public to understand the school’s position after a teacher’s arrest for attempting to send a minor obscene material.

U.S. Marshals arrested third grade teacher Lee Hughes on May 1 following a nearly year-long investigation. Principal Jessica Hill never expected to navigate such a situation, and welcomes any potential solutions to increase student safety. 

Hill said Pinellas Preparatory Academy (PPA) has the same strict hiring standards as any public school. She expressed frustration over the false assumption that “charter schools just hire whoever they want.” 

“It was explained to me that with these types of people, there are no red flags,” Hill told the Catalyst. “There are no hints or clues or anything that we missed. These people are pros at hiding themselves in chat rooms and having different identities.” 

The FBI investigated Hughes, 45, for 10 months. He allegedly sent 10 pictures and videos of his genitals to an undercover agent posing as the parent of a 9-year-old daughter, and requested that they show the material to the child.

Hughes also allegedly detailed how he would sexually abuse the child. Agents set up a meeting and subsequently took Hughes into custody. 

Hill noted the investigation encompassed “basically the entire school year” and questioned the wait and lack of notice. The FBI told her that the agency did not discern the suspect’s identity until “just a couple of days” before his arrest.” 

“We don’t have lax hiring processes,” Hill reiterated. “It wasn’t something where we allowed him to stay on staff for the entire school year, and all of a sudden, he was arrested. 

“When the story initially broke, it was really hard to read the comments on social media.” 

Prospective staff at PPA must undergo a fingerprint and background check, as they would at any other school. Hill said the district, Pinellas County Schools, processes that information. 

District officials cleared Hughes. He has taught at PPA since 2022 without incident. 

According to a Federal Grand Jury Indictment, Hughes was charged with one count of attempted transmission of harmful material to a minor. Image: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Fingerprint renewals occur every five years. Hill stressed that there “were no clues” with Hughes, who lacked a criminal record. 

Hill said Hughes was part of a sting that included hundreds of people. She noted similar cases involving area teachers have emerged in the weeks since his arrest. 

There was “nothing at all” to indicate Hughes had inappropriate interactions with any students. Hill swiftly terminated the teacher after his arrest and notified parents and staff. 

PPA also held a meeting with parents and the FBI in the aftermath of Hughes’ arrest. Hill said the question and answer session allowed them to “work through those ranges of emotions.” 

“A lot of what people have expressed is that they are really sad,” Hill explained. “They really enjoyed him (Hughes) as a teacher. He was a great teacher, and he connected well with his students.”

Hill said the school, to provide some “peace of mind,” brought a specially trained police K-9 unit in to search for hidden cameras or recording devices. “Nothing was found.”

PPA also provided a clinical psychologist to console students and staff in the days following Hughes’ arrest. Hill said the FBI was very supportive and secured the K-9 unit from the Pinellas Park Police Department. 

The school paid for the psychologist. Hill said it was important that her staff and students had what they needed to navigate a traumatic situation. 

She believes the initial shock has subsided, and the community is now more appreciative of her efforts to move the school forward. PPA opened in 2002 and is home to about 800 children and 100 employees. “We can’t allow one person to ruin our reputation,” Hill said.

She has asked the FBI for advice on implementing additional screening measures. However, there is no silver bullet when an applicant lacks a criminal record.

Hill has also advocated for training that would help staff identify subtle behavioral red flags. She wonders if there is a new process schools could implement to monitor employees.

“If there is something that would be beneficial to the staff or just the leadership team, I would do it,” Hill said. “We would pay for whatever that is.” 

Hill called it frustrating to know the FBI monitored Hughes for 10 months, and it “took so long” to discover his identity. She would like the agency to explore improving its investigative techniques and information sharing rather than allowing an alleged sexual offender to continue teaching a “classroom of 9-year-old kids.”