Unchecked Misconduct In Pendleton County Schools

Editor’s Note appears in full at the end

Who are our children actually locked in the classroom with? What do the teachers’ conduct reports look like, those responsible for the education, protection, and guidance of our children?

Are teachers, principals, board members, and the superintendent allegedly guilty of covering up repeated misconduct, unacceptable behavior, and even multiple levels of abuse from staff?

These are the questions that we have heard from numerous concerned parents and students in the school district.

On January 16, 2026, a post on social media was brought to our attention due to the concerning nature of the post. It was a simple post with few words that came from a very discouraged and frustrated parent.

The post began with the powerful statement,
“Ms. Stephens has NO BUSINESS being around children.”
The post was concluded with an even stronger message:
“If you don’t like children, DON’T WORK IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.”

The post immediately received numerous statements, comments and accusations about alleged misconduct, multiple variations of abuse, as well as other unacceptable behavior that were reportedly experienced with Ms. Stephens, according to former and current parents and students inside the walls of the Pendleton County Schools.

Once we understood the seriousness of these allegations, we began looking deeper. We started investigating and reached out to many members of the community who shared similar stories. These individuals allege that Ms. Stephens engaged in unacceptable behavior, including a lack of empathy toward children with specific needs, screaming and yelling at students, displaying a nasty attitude, and exhibiting what they believe to be abuse and misconduct.

Through our investigation, we were told that on multiple different occasions, spanning over at least the last decade, Ms. Stephens has allegedly caused a substantial amount of turmoil in the classroom and has reportedly upset many parents and students. We discovered that while not all incidents were formally reported to the principal or district, many were, allegedly with little or no results.

A clear picture began to emerge, one that some parents and students describe as portraying a rabid wolf disguised in the pure white wool of a sheep.

One former student claims that as a freshman in or around January of 2020 at PCHS, she had Ms. Stephens as a substitute teacher. She describes a disagreement between her and Ms. Stephens that allegedly resulted in Ms. Stephens “hitting” her on the shoulder.

The former student went on to say that after class was dismissed, Ms. Stephens held her back and expressed her apologies, stating that she didn’t mean to strike her. The student informed her parents of the situation, and her parents contacted the school about the incident but according to the family, nothing was ever done.

Another parent describes an incident involving Ms. Stephens when she was a substitute teacher in her child’s 1st grade class. The parent alleges that Ms. Stephens got in her child’s face and yelled, then grabbed a toy and threw it in the garbage, reportedly saying the trash had “puke” in it, which ruined the toy. The parent recalls her daughter getting off the bus later that day, hysterically crying with “dots all over [her] face.” The parent contacted the school and requested that Ms. Stephens not be assigned to her daughter’s classroom again.

When this parent reached out to Pendleton County School Superintendent Joe Buerkley about the matter, she claims he responded that he would not “step on the toes” of Principal Hegyi if the situation was already being handled. According to the parent, it never was. She says her requests were ignored, and her daughter is still, at times, placed in a classroom where Ms. Stephens substitutes. The parent states her child is still “terrified” of Ms. Stephens to this day.

Other parents and students have claimed that their child’s education suffers every time Ms. Stephens is in the classroom.

These are just a few of the alleged instances of misconduct and failure to protect students that have been reported to us. They suggest potential mismanagement, little or no accountability, and what some believe is a complete lack of the professionalism and emotional intelligence required inside the school system. These reports should be of concern to everyone in the community and should not be ignored or swept under the rug. The accusations date back as far as a decade ago, and one can only speculate how long these issues may have allegedly been occurring.

The number of allegations involving Principal Hegyi and Superintendent Buerkley, specifically regarding claims that they failed to properly address these and other issues within the schools, is growing. No child should ever be so intimidated or afraid of a teacher that they experience fear and anxiety upon entering a classroom. There are even reports of parents who have removed their children from Pendleton County Schools altogether, citing bullying and a lack of support from school leadership. If true, this is absolutely unacceptable and must be addressed.

I have personally reached out to Principal Hegyi and Superintendent Buerkley for comment. I received the following statement from Superintendent Buerkley:

“Thank you for reaching out and for sharing the concerns you have received. The district takes all matters related to student safety very seriously and thoroughly reviews any information or concerns that are brought to our attention. That said, we are unable to comment further on specific allegations, personal matters, or individual student issues, as those are protected under privacy laws, including FERPA, and confidentiality requirements related to employment matters. We appreciate your understanding of these limitations.”
Joe Buerkley
Superintendent
Pendleton County Schools

This is a developing story that I will continue to follow closely and report on. Everything in this article should be considered allegations and community concerns, not verified evidence. If you would like to share your story, or if you’ve had similar experiences within the Pendleton County School System, please reach out. As always, we respect your privacy. If you wish to remain anonymous, we will honor that right.

Whisper Two

Editor’s Note:
All claims in this article are based on community reports and personal testimonies. At the time of publishing, these remain unverified allegations and not confirmed findings. The individuals named have been contacted for comment. All accused parties are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.