James Carroll, the head of the private preschool— National Child Research Center (NCRC) in Washington DC, was arrested on federal charges of coercing a minor.
Carroll faces allegations involving online interactions that allegedly enticed a minor through the Discord messaging platform. These interactions allegedly included coercing the victim into sending s*xually explicit material.
What is James Carroll's career trajectory?
With an emphasis on independent schools in the Washington, D.C., area, James Carroll has had a notable career in education. Carroll has been the Head of School at the National Child Research Center (NCRC) since July 2018 until this occurrence.
Carroll served as Head of School at Concord Hill School in Chevy Chase, Maryland, from 2016 to 2018 before joining NCRC. The school also serves as a preschool for kids in grades three through five.
In addition, he worked for ten years at Beauvoir The National Cathedral Elementary School in Washington, first as a homeroom directing teacher for third graders from 2005 to 2010 and then as the Director of Outplacement from 2010 to 2016.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and English Literature from Liverpool John Moores University in 1993 and later pursuing a Master’s in Independent School Leadership from Columbia University (2015-2017), James Carroll began his career at Brookland Junior School in the UK. He worked there for a long tenure of 8 years from May 1993 to August 2001, initially as a teacher before advancing to the role of Deputy Head Teacher.
Why was James Carroll arrested?
Federal court documents show that on September 11, an employee from Discord noticed a picture of child sexual abuse posted on the service. This was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline, where it was then referred to the FBI.
The investigators pursued the IP addresses connected to the Discord user, one of which led them to the National Child Research Center (NCRC) preschool in Washington, D.C., and the other to his home location.
The investigation revealed the phone number belonged to James Carroll, the Head of School at NCRC. Following this, from November 5 to 14, Carroll is accused of engaging in conversations with an undercover officer posing as the father of a young child. Prosecutors allege that during this exchange, Carroll directed the officer to harm the child over two weeks.
FBI agents used open-source databases to confirm his identity, leading to his arrest on Tuesday. Carroll has been charged and is awaiting a hearing on November 25.
FBI agents used open-source databases to confirm his identity, leading to his arrest on Tuesday. Carroll has been charged and is awaiting a hearing on November 25.
In response to the arrest, the NCRC school placed James Carroll on administrative leave and barred him from campus. Board Chair Megan Ortiz expressed the school’s shock, condemning the alleged actions as a profound betrayal. According to News4, the Board Chair of the school, Megan Ortiz, issued a statement:
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“Like you, my Board colleagues and I are shocked and deeply unsettled by this news. We have no more serious responsibility than providing a safe environment for our children and families, and Mr. Carroll’s reported conduct — if true —represents a grave betrayal of our trust and yours.”
The NCRC, which boasts a tuition cost of up to $42,000 per year, is known as D.C.'s oldest continuously operating preschool. The school website has also removed James Carroll's bio from its website.
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