JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County District Five School Board Member Reginald “Reggie” Blount has issued a stern call for accountability following two high-profile controversies that have shaken public confidence in the district’s safety and hiring oversight.
The incidents—one involving an unauthorized individual presenting himself as a high school football coach and another involving the arrest of an elementary school paraprofessional for child abuse—have prompted Blount to demand immediate action from Superintendent leadership.
“I am deeply disturbed by the recent incidents in our school district,” Blount said in a statement provided to News4JAX. “As the District 5 representative, I expect the Superintendent and key district personnel to take every necessary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. This includes verifying that all personnel with access to students have been properly vetted and cleared for employment.”
The school board member’s comments come on the heels of confirmation from Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) that Jerrand Nesmith was never officially employed as the head football coach at Riverside High School, despite being referenced as such in team communications and outside media. While DCPS confirmed that Nesmith had received a job offer earlier this year, the district stated he “failed to meet employment requirements” and was never granted clearance to work with students.
The revelation has left parents and players in limbo. Families have expressed deep frustration over a lack of transparency, citing concerns that the confusion over coaching leadership—and the resulting inconsistency in player statistics—could jeopardize students’ college recruiting opportunities. DCPS officials have not explained why Nesmith remained in team-affiliated circles or why the hiring process fell through, citing privacy regarding individual personnel files.
Simultaneously, the district is reeling from the Oct. 14 arrest of 64-year-old Jeanette Lynn Akers, a former paraprofessional at Love Grove Elementary. Akers is facing four counts of third-degree felony child abuse stemming from an alleged incident on May 14. According to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report, a witness observed Akers shoving students with special needs into chairs, yelling at them, and striking them with a workbook.
Akers, who was transferred to a different district facility following the internal report, was eventually arrested in Brevard County. She is now being held at the Pretrial Detention Facility in Jacksonville, with conditions of her release including no contact with minors or the victims involved.
Blount emphasized that these disparate events reflect a broader, urgent need for administrative rigor. He has called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” into both the Riverside and Love Grove incidents, promising that the findings will dictate further disciplinary or policy actions.
As of Friday, the district has not responded to specific inquiries regarding whether an internal investigation is currently underway to determine how an unvetted coach was allowed to interact with the Riverside football team.
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