Durham deputy superintendent indicted on six obstruction charges in school abuse case
DURHAM, NC – A top Durham Public Schools administrator is facing new felony charges after a grand jury indicted her this week for allegedly interfering with a child abuse investigation involving a 6-year-old student with autism who was found tied to a chair at an elementary school.
Tanya Janique Giovanni, who served as deputy superintendent for administrative, legal and compliance services, was indicted on six counts of felony obstruction of justice. The charges accuse her of attempting to “obstruct, impede, or hinder public or legal justice into an investigation of child abuse of minor involving the abuse of minor child that was tied to chair at Eno Valley Elementary school, as depicted in still photograph.”
The indictment alleges Giovanni withheld key information from investigators and actively interfered with law enforcement efforts during the probe into the incident at Eno Valley Elementary School.
Allegations of withheld evidence and interference
According to the indictment, Giovanni had access to a statement from the school’s principal regarding the incident but did not provide it to investigators. She is also accused of preventing another school employee from answering questions posed by law enforcement and denying the existence of an investigative file related to the case.
Prosecutors further allege Giovanni claimed she had reviewed all emails belonging to a retired school employee connected to the investigation. The indictment states, “This offense was done with deceit and intent to defraud, and in secrecy and malice, and was infamous.”
Giovanni had already been indicted earlier on obstruction-related charges. The latest indictment adds additional counts. She was hired into the deputy superintendent role in October 2024 and has since been removed from her position.
Expanding investigation into school leadership
The case is part of a broader investigation that has led to charges against multiple Durham school officials. Eno Valley Elementary School principal Tounya Wright was previously indicted on three counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.
Investigators say the case began after Wright received photos in November 2024 showing the child tied to a chair with a jump rope. According to a warrant, Wright initially told authorities the images were left anonymously at the school, but investigators later determined that account was false.
Authorities said a janitor took the photos and sent them to a secretary, who then forwarded them to Wright. Investigators also allege Wright misrepresented when she received the images, despite state requirements that school staff immediately report suspected child abuse to law enforcement.
“In summary, Principal Wright’s credibility is undermined by her shifting explanations regarding how she received the incriminating photo of the victim, the timing and method of her reporting the incident to Human Resources and law enforcement, and her knowledge of the source of the photo,” police wrote in the warrant. “Her accounts conflict not only with each other but also with testimony and documentation from other witnesses, particularly regarding the chain of custody for the photo and the identity of the initial reporter.”
Wright’s attorney denied the allegations in a statement, saying, “Dr. Wright is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing in this incident and looks forward to her day in court so that she may finally be exonerated of these baseless charges.” The statement added, “She has spent her entire career educating and advocating for the children of Durham County and anyone that knows her knows the charges against her are ridiculously bogus.”
Two teachers’ aides initially linked to the incident resigned in December 2024. One was arrested on child abuse charges, but prosecutors later dropped the case after new evidence suggested the aide may not have been present when the incident occurred.
Another Durham Public Schools administrator, Ayesha Hunter, senior executive director of employee relations, has also been indicted on obstruction charges as the investigation into the handling of the case continues.