Principal’s Dispute Over Controversial Yearbook Quote
A principal from Florida has found herself in the middle of a heated controversy after a song lyric attributed to her appeared in the school yearbook. Katie O’Connell, the principal of Trout Creek Academy in St. Johns County, was placed on administrative leave on May 20 after a page dedicated to her featured a lyric from a song by rapper Fetty Wap.
The controversial quote, taken from Fetty Wap’s 2015 hit “Trap Queen,” was included on the first page of the yearbook. The line read, “Everybody hating, we just call them fans though! – Mrs. O’Connell.” The song is known for its references to drug dealing and strip clubs, which led some parents to question whether it was appropriate for a school publication.
O’Connell has denied any involvement in the selection of the quote. She claims she had no knowledge of its inclusion until someone shared screenshots of the yearbook on Facebook. According to her, no one from the school district or parents reached out to her directly about the issue.
“I received zero phone calls, or emails, or any questions about the yearbook,” O’Connell said in an interview with Action News Jax. “All I needed was the time or the opportunity to have fixed an error that was made, and it wasn’t made by me.”
Two days after receiving the administrative leave letter, O’Connell was informed that she would not be reappointed for the 2026-2027 school year. This decision has sparked debate among staff and parents alike.
One colleague, assistant principal Samantha Sawruk, defended O’Connell. In an email obtained by ANJ, she stated that the quote was not present during the proofreading process on April 9th. She also pointed out that O’Connell typically signs her name as “Ms. O” in official communications, suggesting the quote was not added by her.
Yearbook teacher Jodi Stobe also provided support but gave conflicting statements to the school district. During an interview with the ESE Coordinator of Special Programs, Stobe claimed that O’Connell had seen the quote before the books were distributed. However, this contradicted her earlier statements.
O’Connell’s attorney, Jack Webb, called the incident “a bunch of garbage.” He argued that O’Connell was being unfairly blamed for something she was not responsible for.
The principal has also reported receiving threats, which she has shared with local authorities. Despite the challenges, O’Connell remains committed to her career in education, although she has expressed a desire to move on from Trout Creek Academy.
“I have an exemplary record. My school scores are amazing. I have 92% teacher retention. I have five straight years of being highly effective in St. Johns County schools,” she said. “There’s no reason to throw away someone’s career or to hurt a family like this.”
Parent Chris Farlow echoed these sentiments, stating that removing experienced educators like O’Connell would harm the quality of education for students.
“If you start getting rid of the best of the best, who are we going to have to teach our children to be the best that they can be?” Farlow asked.
