School worker arrested
A 23-year old Seneca woman has been arrested after a a school district employee contacted an investigator with information about what the sheriff’s office called unusual behavior between Emily Hall Tannery and a minor. As evidence was gathered, according to the sheriff’s office, a determination was made that Tannery exchanged text messages with the child in an attempt to illicit in-appropriate response from the child. The warrant charging Tannery alleges contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Oconee public schools issued the following statement: “On Sunday, December 4th, the School District of Oconee County was made aware of a situation involving an employee. As of Monday, December 5th, the individual was no longer employed with the district. Because this is a legal and personnel matter, no further details can be provided at this time. Dr. Michael Thorsland, superintendent, said, ‘I am grateful to those involved who acted quickly to ensure the safety of the student, which is our first and foremost priority. We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as they investigate. Any time an employee fails to fulfill their role, we take it seriously. But when an employee’s actions concern the safety of a child, we act swiftly to prevent any further harm. This case is a great example of why good communication is vital for our schools and community. Any time a student, parent, or staff member has a concern, we implore them to share that concern with school leadership.”