Hamtilon County Sheriff’s Office / Kenya White, 32, was arrested Feb. 12, 2025, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, solicitation of a minor and kidnapping.A teacher at Chattanooga Preparatory School who was arrested on charges including sexual exploitation of a minor and kidnapping has no active teaching license, according to Tennessee Department of Education records.
Kenya White, 32, was indicted Feb. 10 following an investigation by the Chattanooga Police Department and the department of children’s services. The charges stem from an incident in February 2023, when police responded to a call at East Lake Academy, a magnet school in the Hamilton County school system.
White was a teacher at East Lake Academy, and his employment ended after the 2022-23 academic year, according to a spokesperson for Hamilton County Schools.
White’s license report with the state shows he was issued a permit to teach theater to K-12 students for the 2022-23 school year, but the permit expired in June 2023. Even licenses that are expired or inactive remain on the teacher’s license report, based on an analysis of multiple license reports. White’s report has no such history.
Permits are granted to people who do not hold an active teaching license in the event the school system cannot find a qualified, licensed teacher to fill a vacancy, according to the state board of education rules.
The rule applies to all public schools and charter schools under Tennessee law.
(READ MORE: Two new charter schools could be coming to Hamilton County)
Since the arrest, White’s name has been removed from Chatt Prep’s staff directory, where he was originally listed as teaching sixth grade guided reading, a position that was not covered by the expired permit he was issued.
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.