Cabarrus County teacher and principal arrested, charges include indecent liberties and failure to report crimes

CONCORD, N.C. — A now-former teacher and the principal of a Concord charter school have been arrested after a teacher was accused of inappropriate behavior, according to the Kannapolis Police Department. 

The investigation started on Oct. 4, when Kannapolis Police received a complaint that Concord Lake STEAM Academy Principal Kendra Woods had failed to report a crime. 

She has since been charged with one count of failure to report abuse as well as one count of failure to report crimes against juveniles, police said. Kendra Woods, a 42-year-old Charlotte resident, was taken into custody and brought to the Mecklenburg County Jail. She posted bond Tuesday, and is set to appear in court on Dec. 30. 

Due to the investigation, 23-year-old Tyler Woods, a teacher at the charter school, was arrested back in October.

He has been charged with three counts of indecent liberties with a child, one count of disseminating obscenity to a minor, and one count of permitting a minor to assist in obscenity. Tyler Woods, who is not related to Kendra Woods, was taken to the Cabarrus County Jail where he received a $100,000 bond. He posted bail on Oct. 10, and his case was moved to superior court. 

Greg Young, a Kannapolis resident, expressed community concern, saying, “It’s terrible when adults stoop down to practicing things like that against a child. It’s terrible.” He added, “Hopefully, the family gets the results they need from the school.”

The following message was sent to families at the charter school: “We’ve been made aware that Principal Kendra Woods was arrested in relation to an ongoing investigation associated with a former employee.  We are not at liberty to discuss any personnel issues, but rest assured, we are taking all appropriate actions.”

Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.  

WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.