A former Jacksonville charter school dean has been arrested on multiple charges of sexual battery against a child. James L. Tellis, 27, was taken into custody on Friday after being accused of sexually abusing a student during the 2023/2024 school year. Following his arrest, Tellis was swiftly terminated from IDEA River Bluff Charter School. In a statement obtained by Action News Jax, the school emphasized that "the safety of our students is our highest priority" and that "any conduct that compromises safety is unacceptable and will be met with swift action."
The case came to light when the alleged victim, who was around 11 years old at the time of the incidents, disclosed to the police that Tellis had abused her and used social media platforms like Instagram to communicate with her in 'Vanish Mode' and bribe her with offers of food. The student averred she was led to an empty room where the abuse occurred. Details of the case also include evidence of a $45 transaction from Tellis to the student on Cash App, as reported by News4JAX. Despite the student's expressed desire to not continue communicating with Tellis, further investigation revealed that he had not only attempted to reach out to her about a week after the incident, but according to police, five more potential victims ranging from 10 to 17 years old have since been identified.
Tellis was employed as an English teacher at both Charter Schools USA and KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools during the time frame when the alleged crimes took place. While Charter Schools USA stated that the allegations have "nothing to do with our school or any of our students," KIPP Jacksonville noted in a statement to Action News Jax their intent to cooperate with authorities if called upon, adding that "our priority remains providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every student at KIPP Jacksonville." Tellis had passed all required state and federal criminal background checks prior to his employment in these institutions.
Currently, Tellis is being held in the Duval County Jail with a court appearance scheduled for August 18. The gravity of the charges includes first-degree felony sexual battery and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. According to the arrest report shared by First Coast News, the assault was said to occur on March 20 in 2023 or 2024, but the aftermath of the events has echoed into the present, bringing to the fore the urgent conversation on the safety of minors within educational environments.
