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Former Edgewater High School security guard reprimanded for messaging student, records show

By Michael Lopardi
By Michael Lopardi
A former security guard at Edgewater High School in Orlando was reprimanded for messaging a student through the app Snapchat, documents from Orange County Schools show.
The guard, Steven Woods, 47, was allowed to return to work in September after being placed on administrative leave for more than two weeks. He resigned Oct. 10.
“I was hoping to see some of your snaps from today. Specially that pic of you squatting down. What r u up to?” Woods wrote, according to records released by the district office.
When the student said she did not post the pictures, Woods replied, “Dang. I would have like to see. Whats the mean pretty girl up to tonight? Why aren’t you in bed?”
Woods, who was also listed in documents from the district as an assistant football coach, received a written reprimand for violating policy after admitting to the texts and was restricted to the guard booth when he returned to work on Sept. 5.
The district said Woods sent the message after spotting three female students taking photos on campus.
He told administrators that he was trying to get to know the students better and build a rapport but went about it the wrong way, according to records.
“It was very inappropriate,” said Amby Gibson Griffin, the mother of the student who purportedly received the message.
So what exactly is the district’s policy when it comes to staff and social media?
Orange County Public Schools referred us to management directive A-9, which states: “No employee of Orange County Public Schools should engage in any texting or other social media with any OCPS student with the following two exceptions: 1. The student is their child 2. An employee may group text or post information that is related to a class, athletic or extracurricular activity.”
“I don't think that the actual employees understand the depth of it,” Gibson Griffin said.
The student’s mother said she was frustrated by the pace of the investigation and wants district employees better educated about social media rules.
Woods submitted a one-line resignation letter that did not say why he was leaving.
Channel 9 reached out to Woods through text message and left two voice messages but did not hear back.
The student who received the message has since transferred to a different school.

Cox Media Group

Michael Lopardi

Michael Lopardi

Michael Lopardi joined Eyewitness News as a general assignment reporter in April 2015.

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