Updated: Bridges Prep charter school fires new principal

Bridges Preparatory School's board of directors voided the contract of its new head of school Wednesday after learning of discrepancies in his qualifications and resume, leaving the Beaufort charter school without a headmaster for the third time in as many years.

The Bridges Prep board approved ending Benjamin Rollins' contract in an emergency session after "after learning of discrepancies with his professional certifications and significant omissions on his resume," according to a news release from the school Friday.

Board chairwoman Dee Matthews informed Rollins of the decision Thursday afternoon, the release said.

"Due to information we recently received, irregularities in both his resume and in his administrative certification for being a head of school prevent him from being able to fulfill his contract," Matthews said in the release. "We have voided the contract, and we are moving ahead for the next school year."

Attempts to reach Rollins for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

The news release did not give any information on what discrepancies and omissions were found by the school. John Williams, a spokesman for the charter school, declined to elaborate on the board's findings Friday.

The school announced June 4 that Rollins, a teacher and school administrator with 14 years of experience, had been hired as Bridges' new head of school after a sixth-month search. Williams said 41 people responded to the job listing.

The announcement said Rollins and his family had already moved to the area. Rollins started at the school July 1, the release said.

"It's an unfortunate situation for all involved, but we will move forward," Matthews said in the release. "We've come a long way in a short amount of time, despite issues with finding the ideal head of school. We will continue that progress."

The release said more details could not be released because it is a personnel matter.

The June release on Rollins' hiring said he had a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree with a concentration in educational administration, both from Berry College in Georgia. The release also said Rollins studied at Oxford University in England and had a doctorate in philosophy from Georgia State University.

From 2006 to 2014, Rollins worked in several roles at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, including as upper-school principal and dean of academics, the release said. More recently, Rollins was working as an educational consultant, "specializing in student test preparation and helping schools increase enrollment and find better, more creative ways to evaluate teachers," according to the release.

No replacement head of school or interim head has been announced. The board of directors likely will discuss leadership options with the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina, Matthews said in the release.

Students at Bridges Prep return to class Aug. 12.

Rollins is the fifth head of school the charter school has had in its three years:

• Melesia Walden, the initial head of school, left about a month into the first school year in September 2013, citing disagreements with the board of directors.

Follow reporter Matt McNab on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Updated: Bridges Prep charter school fires new principal."