Former Tift Co. high school principal arrested and charged on 6 felony counts

February 21, 2024

Matthew Crumley,

TIFTON, Ga. – The former principal of Tift County High School Dr. Chad Stone was arrested and charged on 6 felony counts this morning and transported to the Tift County Jail.

Stone is charged with 1 count of theft by taking – felony and 5 felony counts of unauthorized use of financial transaction card.

The charges result from a GBI investigation after a Professional Standards Commission found that Stone had violated professional standards.

He formally resigned as principal last Monday, February 12 after being placed on suspension in January.

The Tift County Board of Education had put Stone on administrative leave after the Georgia Professional Standards Commission ruled that Stone had violated professional standards dealing with misuse of public funds and property, remunerative conduct, and unethical professional conduct.

The Tift County Board of Education had also placed Stone on administrative leave in September for five days. Stone made a public apology for unspecified “ethical lapses,” which he said he would “repay restitution to the school system.”

Stone was Georgia’s 2023 Principal of the Year.

Stone has since bonded out of jail.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

The Tifton Police Department and the GBI’s Sylvester field investigative office is currently handling the case.

This is a developing story. Stay with CBS 44 South Georgia for more updates as information becomes available.