Cheating but Not Cheated: A Memoir of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal

The Atlanta Public School’s cheating scandal is a case study for school districts, educators, and students in education, journalism, and ethics. The five year ordeal, which culminated in a seven month trial, was a matter of international scandal all kicked off by a newspaper investigation. Cheating But Not Cheated gives readers the details of the matter from an insider’s point of view. Christopher Waller was held out by the APS superintendent, and later the media, as the “poster child” of the cheating scandal. A review of the investigation and trial, through the eyes of Christopher Waller, highlights how socio-economics, an over emphasis on testing, and a passion for not being at the bottom of the pack led to the cheating scandal. Cheating is a lesson in leadership, integrity, morale and community involvement. Readers, policy makers, and educators cannot know the full story of the testing scandal until they have heard from those who experienced it first hand. Cheating reveals the perspective that must be understood to prevent future school cheating scandals.