JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former dean of students at IDEA River Bluff Charter School in Arlington, who was accused last year of multiple felonies involving sexual conduct with a minor, pleaded guilty last week to three charges and was sentenced to time served, court records show.
James Tellis, now 28, pleaded guilty June 15 to offenses against students by authority figures, soliciting a child via computer and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. A sexual battery charge against Tellis was dropped.
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He was sentenced to 12 months in the county jail and was credited with 325 days of time served, meaning he will be released in about a month.
Tellis was ordered to register as a sexual offender with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and will be on sex offender probation for five years after his release.
According to arrest reports, the conduct in question was alleged to have occurred between the 2023/2024 school year at a public charter school within KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, where Tellis was an English teacher at the time.
On Nov. 15, 2024, police said they were sent to a student’s home, where she revealed the details and context surrounding the incident.
According to Tellis’ arrest report, the student stated that in March of the school year, Tellis, through Instagram messaging, attempted to bribe her with food and offered to tutor her for a class she was failing.
She told police she was either 11 or 12 years old at the time.
Later, during controlled messaging between the student and Tellis that was being monitored by investigators, officers said that Tellis used a feature on Instagram that allows sent messages to disappear once they are read by the recipient, known as “Vanish Mode.”
Tellis’ wife, who is also a teacher, said she would not speak to the police or participate in the investigation.
IDEA Public Schools provided this statement to News4JAX regarding the arrest:
On the morning of July 26, IDEA Jacksonville was made aware of the off-campus arrest of an employee in connection with an alleged incident involving a minor. There is no indication that the incident involved an IDEA scholar. The employee was immediately terminated, and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement. The safety of our students is our highest priority. Any conduct that compromises that safety is unacceptable and will be met with swift action. While we cannot share further details due to the ongoing investigation, we have taken all appropriate legal steps. All IDEA employees undergo thorough state and federal criminal background checks and must pass to gain employment. Even so, ongoing vigilance, accountability, and a culture of safety remain essential. We remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.
IDEA Public Schools
KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools also sent a statement, which read:
Mr. Tellis was employed by KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools from October 20, 2022, until he resigned on February 24, 2024. Mr. Tellis underwent all the required state and federal criminal background screenings prior to his employment at KIPP Jacksonville.
This is an ongoing law enforcement investigation, and we intend to cooperate fully with the authorities if called upon. At this time, we do not have any indication if the incident involved a student at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools. Our priority remains providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every student at KIPP Jacksonville.
KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools