The DeSoto County School Board has elected a new chair after the previous position holder sparked outrage from the community over a letter she wrote in support of a former teacher and youth minister convicted of child sex crimes.

After hearing from the public during Thursday’s open meeting, board members voted unanimously to strip embattled District 2 representative Michele Henley of her role as chair and to promote Jerald Wheeler to the post. The move followed calls from enraged parents and community members for Henley to resign, alleging that she used her official title to sway a judge’s opinion of former DeSoto Central assistant women’s basketball coach and Getwell Church youth minister Lindsey Whiteside.

Whiteside is accused of having a sexual relationship with a female teenager betw

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