EVANS, Ga. (WJBF)- A Lakeside High School teacher who was fired and arrested is now getting support from students.
Jerry Meitin is charged with terroristic threats and acts after being accused of threatening to shoot students.
He is no longer employed with the Columbia County School District.
Warrants allege that Jerry Meitin “threatened to shoot multiple students if he had a gun”.
But some of his current and former students are in shock, and they’re defending the teacher they say had a big influence on their lives.
“Mr. Meitin is awesome. Like other students have said, he’s one of the most passionate teachers at Lakeside,” said Hannah Liebel.
Students are also sharing more shocking details, including Meitin’s plans to retire this school year after teaching for decades.
“He was retiring this year, so I think that’s what especially makes this really saddening. This would have been his last year,” said Ibraheem Hassan.
Johnathan Bickel says he was in the classroom when the alleged comments were exchanged.
“It was a poorly timed joke, but it’s been taken grossly out of context as a whole. I did not feel threatened at all in that moment in any shape or form, and I was sitting right in front of him,” said Bickel. “This man has put in over 20 years of dedication to being a teacher. He was a mentor for a lot of people, and he cared for all of his students.”
Students are surprised by Meitin’s firing knowing his character.
In 2023, the veteran math teacher was recognized as the STAR Teacher for Columbia County—a program honoring the highest-achieving students and teachers across the state of Georgia.
Former student George Zhou was last year’s valedictorian, and has started a GoFundMe to pay for Meitin’s bond and legal fees.
“Mr. Meitin taught us to not only analyze our problems, but to stand up for the community and stand on our convictions. I felt like starting this campaign was just applying the lessons he taught us directly into action,” said Zhou.
Along with the GoFundMe, students are paying tribute by wearing colors and ribbons with a special meaning.
“Mr. Meitin graduated from the University of Florida, and anyone who took his class knows he’s a huge gators fan. So, this is just one of the ways we thought we could honor him by wearing orange and blue. Half of us here are really big UGA fans, so anytime we wear any other college, you know we mean business,” Liebel said.
Kareem Hassan says it’s now about giving back and helping the teacher who’s done the same for them.
“Mr. Meitin has spent a huge portion of his life giving to us and giving to the Lakeside community. Now, in his time of need, it’s time for us to give back to him,” said Hassan.
The Columbia County School District says this is an ongoing investigation.
We also reached out to Meitin, but he says he can’t share any comments at this time.
