An Alamance-Burlington Public Schools assistant principal is facing charges of having sex with a student.

JAMES TYLER KELLY

James Tyler Kelly, age 39, was arrested on Aug. 8 by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) on one count of felony sex act with a student.

Kelly, an assistant principal at Southern Alamance Middle School, was issued a $50,000 secured bond. He posted the bond and was released in the early morning hours of Aug. 8.

In a press release, the ACSO provided more details about Kelly’s arrest.

“On Monday, August 7, 2023, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU), began an investigation of a school administrator allegedly involved in misconduct with a student,” the ACSO statement reads. “SVU Investigators conducted interviews and gathered evidence during the initial investigation.”

Following the investigation, Kelly was taken into custody. According to the ACSO, the “alleged misconduct did not occur on ABSS school property.”

Per the ACSO, the investigation is still ongoing.

The Alamance-Burlington School System issued a short statement on Kelly’s arrest:

“We are deeply troubled by the recent arrest of one of our Assistant Principals for alleged misconduct with a student. “Protecting our students is our top priority.”

The district offered no other comments and Kelly’s employment status is unknown at this time.

Kelly holds a North Carolina teaching license in the areas of Exceptional Children: General Curriculum (K-12), Social Studies 9-12, and School Administrator: Principal.

His license was issued on July 1, 2019, with an expiration date of June 30, 2024.

Update: Kelly’s license has been summarily suspended as of the week ending Feb. 2.
On April 8, 2025, Kelly was convicted on felony charge of crimes against nature. Prison records show he served no time and was given a suspended sentence of 24 months supervised probation.