Open records show Children’s Librarian Manager Laura Grove was hired while on administrative leave from Richmond County Schools following allegations involving a former student.
by Karin Parham
Columbia County Libraries hired Children’s Librarian Manager Laura Grove in August 2025 while she remained on administrative leave from Richmond County Schools and amid an open Georgia Professional Standards Commission case, according to records obtained through Open Records Requests.
Grove had worked for the Richmond County School System for nearly two decades before being placed on paid administrative leave on June 3, 2025 pending an investigation into alleged “unprofessional behavior.”
The hiring occurred during a period of significant upheaval within Columbia County’s library system, following months of controversy over youth book placement policies and the departure of several longtime librarians who publicly cited concerns about professional ethics.
Records show Grove applied for the Columbia County position on July 29, 2025 while still employed by Richmond County Schools and while on administrative leave. Richmond County formally released Grove from employment on Aug. 7, 2025. Columbia County Libraries issued an offer letter four days later, on Aug. 11, 2025.
Laura Grove’s Employment History With Richmond County Schools
Documents show Grove worked for the Richmond County School System for nearly two decades. Employment records place her first at C.T. Walker Elementary Magnet School beginning in 2006 before later serving as a media specialist at Goshen Elementary School and eventually at A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School.
On June 3, 2025, Richmond County Schools placed Grove on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into alleged “unprofessional behavior.” The letter instructed Grove not to contact students or enter school campuses while the investigation was ongoing.
Divorce and Emergency Custody Filings
The administrative action came months after allegations surfaced in divorce and emergency custody proceedings filed in Columbia County Superior Court. Court records show Grove’s former spouse filed for divorce in April 2024. In February 2025, the plaintiff filed an emergency motion for change of custody and related relief.
An affidavit from a former student attached to those filings alleged Grove engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with that individual while employed within the Richmond County School System. The filings also alleged inappropriate communications involving additional students and referenced prior reports allegedly made to school administrators.
Following an emergency hearing, the court granted the plaintiff sole legal and physical custody of the couple’s children and exclusive possession of the marital residence pending additional proceedings. Final settlement documents filed in October 2025 continued sole legal custody with the plaintiff and established visitation provisions for Grove.
Redacted affidavit filed in Columbia County Superior Court as part of February 2025 emergency custody proceedings. Names of the former student, family members, and children have been removed.
Open Records Requests and Agency Responses
The allegations contained in the affidavit were made in civil court filings and do not constitute criminal findings.
Richmond County Schools released personnel and contract records responsive to Open Records Requests but stated portions of the records were withheld or redacted under exemptions covering personnel evaluations, student records, medical information, and investigative materials related to employee discipline or complaints.
Open records responses from both the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office found no police reports related to the allegations. A records request was also submitted to Georgia DFCS, but the agency declined to release records or state whether responsive records existed, citing confidentiality laws governing child welfare and CPS information.
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC), the state agency responsible for educator certification and ethics enforcement, responded to an Open Records Request by stating records related to Grove could not be released because of an open investigation.
Columbia County Library Application and Hiring Process
Records further show Grove applied for the Columbia County library position on July 29, 2025, during Richmond County’s pre-planning period for the 2025-26 school year. In her application with Columbia County Libraries, Grove listed July 29, 2025, as the date she was available to begin work. At the time, she remained employed by Richmond County Schools and had been on paid administrative leave pending an investigation since June 3, 2025.
The Columbia County application asked whether the applicant had “been suspended, dismissed, or asked to resign.” Grove answered “No.” Richmond County formally released Grove from employment on Aug. 7, 2025. Columbia County Libraries issued her an offer letter four days later, on Aug. 11, 2025.
Qualifications and Credentialing
Georgia State Board for the Certification of Librarians records show Grove was issued a Grade 2 public librarian license in February 2026. Under Georgia’s public librarian licensing structure, a Grade 2 license is classified as a paraprofessional credential and is usually limited to duties of support staff.
The Columbia County job description for Children’s Librarian Manager states the position requires “a Masters degree in Library Science [MLIS] from a college or university accredited by the American Library Association [ALA].” Records show Grove holds a Master’s Add-On in School Library Media from the University of West Georgia, a credential in the K-12 educator certification pathway issued through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. That credential is not an MLIS from an ALA-accredited library school program, which is what the Columbia County job description requires.
It is not clear from the records reviewed whether the GAPSC and Georgia’s Library Board share investigative or disciplinary information with one another. GAPSC stated that records related to Grove could not be released because of an open case. In a separate Open Records Request seeking Grove’s librarian licensing application and supporting materials, the Georgia Library Board denied release of the records, stating such documents are confidential under state law.
In response to questions about Columbia County hiring procedures, Human Resources Director Dr. Jeff Carney stated that hiring managers (rather than HR staff) are responsible for screening applicants and conducting reference checks during the hiring process. Dr. Carney stated that criminal background checks are conducted through HR and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office using Georgia Crime Information Center records as part of onboarding procedures. The school system’s investigation would not emerge in a standard criminal background check though.
In a separate Open Records Request seeking records reflecting verification of Grove’s prior employment and reference checks, Columbia County responded that no responsive records existed within either Columbia County Libraries or County Human Resources files.
In response to a request for comment for this article, Columbia County and the Columbia County Library System declined to comment on the matter.
The Hiring in Context
Grove’s hiring came after years of public accusations from some residents, including claims that librarians were “grooming” children or exposing minors to inappropriate materials, during Columbia County’s ongoing book controversy.
After the departure of several longtime librarians who publicly cited political pressure they said forced them to violate professional library ethics standards, Columbia County Libraries hired Grove while she remained under active investigation by Richmond County Schools following allegations of sexual activity with a former student and while the Georgia Professional Standards Commission maintained an open case related to her educator certification.
