Former New Summerfield HS counselor charged with theft from local nonprofit

 

Nonprofit Embezzlement 101: who controls the money, steals the money.

Bullard, TX:

Unaccounted donations (not subject to federal income taxes) floating around are just too tempting for even licensed educators with Master's Degrees. 46-year old academic advisor Misty Kathleen Adair was recently booked and released on $60K bond for stealing from the Youth For Agriculture Buyers Group. Adair is the volunteer account manager of the local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides grants and scholarships to high school students studying farm management. Her charges include theft of property and misappropriation of funds from the organization, both State felonies. (Source: KETK)  Adair has worked with several East Texas school districts at the upper echelon for the last 20 years, including as New Summerfield ISD's head counselor and sponsor for the district's Honor Society volunteer fund raisers. (Source: Daily Progress)  As predictable as the sun rising in the morning, Cherokee County news outlets neglect to report Misty Adair's arrest and incarceration in neighboring Smith County, despite her employment at New Summerfield ISD. The Jacksonville Daily Progress reports all her school fund raisers, but not when she gets arrested for stealing. In fact, they try to scrub her employment history. What happens in a small town, stays in a small town, unless of course the crime occurs across the county line. 

 As a footnote, Misty Adair was arrested again by Henderson County authorities and booked in Smith County jail on June 17, 2022 for allegedly stealing from a second separate nonprofit organization. (Source: Bullard woman accused of theft, misapplying funds for a second organization, KETK)

On Thursday April 18, 2023, Misty Adair was sentenced in Smith County to 4 years probation + restitution after pleading guilty early in March to the theft of over $7000 from the Youth For Agriculture Buyers Group nonprofit. She was also indicted the same day in Henderson County for stealing $2000 from the same nonprofit's Athens, TX office. (Source: Bullard woman sentenced to probation for theft from youth nonprofit, indicted for similar charge in Henderson County, KETK)

Troup ISD assistant principal resigns; New Summerfield ISD teacher investigated

Troup, TX:

Troup High School assistant principal Mike Staples was placed on administrative leave in November 2010 and subsequently resigned later last month after an undisclosed “complaint” against him by a parent surfaced. Vice Principal Staples had previously been the assistant principal of the West Rusk ISD, according to newspapers. (Source: Tyler Paper, Troup High School Vice Principal Resigns As Investigation Continues, December 4, 2010)

New Summerfield, TX:

According to the December 8th edition of the Tyler Paper, another unidentified New Summerfield ISD teacher under investigation resigned Tuesday, December 7, 2010. (Source: Tyler Paper, New Summerfield Teacher Being Investigated, December 8, 2010) Case closed. The end. No other reporting added or needed for the tiny school district of 410 students.

What is similar in both these stories is that they occurred in and around Cherokee County; are being initially glossed over by Cherokee County based reporters; and consequently contain absolutely no information for public assimilation. The published weather forecast has more qualitative content for the readers. The information disclosed regarding both of these school employees amounts to nothing more than announcements rather than actual reporting of the facts resulting in these resignations and “investigations.” In what other part of the State would newspaper editors bury pertinent information regarding the school districts their own children attend, especially in towns where the schools are the only newsworthy item? They report the cafeteria's cream corn being served on Tuesday, but refuse to identify the allegations leading to another round of Cherokee County teachers being handed their walking papers. In the Freedom of Information Age is it that they believe their school districts and subsequent investigations of (kinfolk) personnel do not require transparency? Or are they just doing their part covering up the mess? What good is this lack of detail in the articles if the individuals are completely innocent? Ambiguous news writing usually shelters the politically well-connected or familial, while simultaneously harming via rumor and innuendo their targets outside that insulated group. Any parent planning to move to Cherokee County and have their children attend the public and private learning institutions in the area should consider how these school resignations are being ‘reported’ by the local media.