Sunlake Principal Accused of Making Anti-Gay Statements

Sunlake High School Principal Garry Walthall is under investigation by Pasco County School District officials after an employee said he made derogatory remarks about her and anti-gay comments in general.

The allegations come from Assistant Principal Deborah Lepley, who lodged a complaint after receiving reprimands for job performance, according to The Tampa Tribune.

Walthall, The Tribune says, entered a meeting where Lepley, who is a lesbian, was in attendance and said, “I’m a homophobe.” On another occasion, he is accused of telling two faculty members that “Dr. Lepley was probably a crack baby. That would explain a lot.”

Tampa attorney James Lowry wrote a letter to the district on Lepley’s behalf after her work performance was questioned by Walthall, The Tribune said. Walthall questioned Lepley’s performance in her handling of a mentally challenged student. He also said she embarrassed a department head, failed to follow the chain of command and doesn’t participate in management meetings.

It is unclear when the district’s investigation will be complete. Lepley, 61, has stated a desire to finish out her career in Pasco schools. She has about four years left until retirement.

Walthall isn’t the only administrator to come under fire in recent months. Connerton Elementary School Principal Anna Falcone was recently recommended for termination by Superintendent Kurt Browning. The school board also decided to completely replace administrators and teaching staff at Lacoochee Elementary School.

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