Durham Public Schools Leaders Indicted in Special-Needs Student Abuse Cover-Up Case

Top Durham Public Schools officials now face felony charges in alleged cover-up after a special-needs abuse report.

DURHAM, N.C. — A deeply troubling special-needs student abuse case inside Durham Public Schools has now exploded into a full-blown criminal investigation, with top district officials accused not of harming a child — but of allegedly trying to control the narrative after the abuse was reported.

Three high-ranking Durham Public Schools administrators were indicted this week on felony charges tied to obstruction of justice and perjury, according to court records.

The indictments stem from a November 2024 incident at Eno Valley Elementary School, where a six-year-old girl with autism was allegedly tied to a chair with a rope by an educator.

The Administrators Now Facing Criminal Charges

The individuals indicted include:

• Dr. Tanya Giovanni, Deputy Superintendent of Administrative, Legal, and Compliance Services

• Ayesha Hunter, Senior Executive Director of Employee Relations

• Dr. Tounya Wright, principal of Eno Valley Elementary School

Authorities stress that none of the three are accused of physically abusing the child. Instead, the charges focus on what prosecutors describe as misleading statements, delayed reporting, and failure to fully cooperate with law enforcement once the allegations surfaced.

According to indictments filed in Durham County:

• Giovanni faces five counts of felony obstruction of justice

• Hunter is charged with six counts of felony obstruction of justice and two counts of perjury

• Wright faces three counts of felony obstruction of justice and one count of perjury

Prosecutors allege the trio interfered with the investigation by withholding evidence, providing false timelines, or failing to disclose critical information tied to the abuse report.

Court documents reveal major discrepancies surrounding when Dr. Wright first learned about the alleged abuse.

Wright reportedly told investigators she became aware of the incident on November 22, 2024, after discovering an anonymous photo slipped under her office door showing the child tied to a chair. She claimed she immediately contacted Human Resources.

However, two staff members told investigators that Wright was notified days earlier and had already received photos of the incident via text message on November 21, 2024.

Those contradictions are now central to the obstruction and perjury charges.

Prosecutors also allege serious issues inside Durham Public Schools’ Human Resources department.

• Giovanni is accused of failing to turn over documents and evidence requested through search warrants and court orders.

• During a July 2025 meeting with the Durham County District Attorney’s Office, Giovanni allegedly minimized the importance of HR documentation, claiming investigations were not “super formalized” or thoroughly recorded.

Meanwhile, Hunter is accused of:

• Withholding witness statements and interview notes from investigators

• Falsely telling a Durham County Superior Court judge that the abuse was reported immediately after it was discovered

Durham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony S. Lewis sent two emails — one to all district families and another to parents at Eno Valley Elementary — acknowledging the indictments.

Lewis confirmed that all three administrators have been suspended with pay while an internal review continues.

“Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students,” Lewis wrote, adding that district policies are under review and expectations will be reinforced.

Lewis confirmed the original allegations were reported to law enforcement and said the instructional assistants involved in the incident resigned shortly after. He declined to name them, citing ongoing legal and personnel matters.