A Hertford County High School teacher has resigned following an arrest for allegedly taking indecent liberties with a student.

TRAVIS JAQUAN GATLING

Name:  Travis Jaquan Gatling
Age: 28
Charge: One count of taking indecent liberties with a student (felony) and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (misdemeanor).
Charge Type: Class G felony: 8 to 31 months; Class 1 misdemeanor: 1 to 120 days of active, intermediate, or community punishment; Discretionary fine.
Arrest Date: Jan. 21, 2024

Victim /Case Details: Gatling is accused of sending explicit sexual messages and photos to the student. Gatling also allegedly urged the student to access pornography. The incident allegedly happened on Jan. 8 and a warrant for his arrest was issued on Jan. 19.

Bond Details: $15,000 secured; posted Jan. 23.
District: Hertford Public Schools System
Current Role: Band Director and Music Teacher at Hertford County High School
History: Hired by the district in 2018
Employment status: Suspended 12 days before his arrest; resigned on the day he was arrested without the required 30-day notice.

Statement from District:

“Hertford County Public Schools (HCPS) is deeply disturbed to learn of the charges filed against one of our teachers. The Hertford County High School officials were made aware of this information on Monday, January 8, 2024, and immediately took swift action by contacting local law enforcement for further investigation. The district responded in kind by immediately suspending the teacher.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. HCPS is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, and appropriate measures will be taken to address this situation in accordance with the law and our internal policies. The school district is committed to providing a safe, secure and nurturing environment for all students. We will continue to provide support to HCHS campus.
Superintendent, Dr. Jesse Pratt stated, HCPS will not tolerate any behavior that compromises the safety and trust within our educational community. As the legal process unfolds, we will keep our stakeholders informed and take the necessary actions to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff.”

NC Teacher License Information:

License Number: 1220236
Name: Gatling, Travis
License Type: Educator
License Status: Current
Expiration Date: 06/30/2026
Effective Date: 07/01/2021
License Area(s): Music K-12

As of Feb. 6, 2024, the license has been suspended.

Updates: On Dec. 9, 2024, Gatling was convicted on the contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge and was given a sentence of 18 months supervised probation.