Poking the bear means sometimes the bear pokes back and poke back the bear did as Jackson Academy struck back at Carolyn and Jason Voyles last week in Hinds County Court.
The couple sued the school and Headmaster Edward Wettach in Hinds County Circuit Court in January. charging the defendants terminated their son's enrollment because the father blew the whistle on alleged "recruiting" of public school athletes for sports. However, Jackson Academy said not so fast, my friend as it filed a motion to compel arbitration that dished some dirt on the Voyles while rebutting their claims.
The plaintiff's son started attending Jackson Academy in 2014 in K-4. He was a rising sophomore after the 2023-2024 school year and played on the baseball team. Mr. and Mrs. Voyles signed a re-enrollment contract in May 2025.
Unfortunately for the Voyles family, that little bit of sharing drew the ire of Jackson Academy (allegedly). The new Headmaster, Eddie Wettech, requested a meeting with the Voyles three days later. The complaint claims Mr. Wettech informed the parents he was kicking their son out of the only school he had ever known:
18. On June 9, 2025, Jason, Carolyn, Eddie, and a board member met in Eddie's office. According to Eddie, Jackson Academy had decided to unenroll the Voyles family, including C.V. from the school.19. Eddie claimed ""the amount of negativity"" caused by the pdf was ""just unacceptable and extreme."" When Carolyn asked Eddie to identify any factual inaccuracies with the pdf, Eddie responded: ""I am not dealing with facts."
21. And it was the facts-not Jason's actions-that sparked the negative backlash that Jackson Academy felt. The facts of Jackson Academy's illegal recruiting demonstrated just how far it had strayed from its mission. Rather than inspiring and equipping "each student" for success, Jackson Academy actively poached rosters of nearby schools so it could win more games.This harms Jackson Academy's students who have devoted their time and loyalty to the school and who, because of Jackson Academy's actions, have fewer athletic slots for which to compete....
The complaint charged JA with breach of contract and sought repayment of 11 years of tuition as well as damages.
Jackson Academy filed a motion to compel arbitration on January 30. The school's enrollment agreement, signed by the Voyles, states any disputes must be resolved through arbitration. The school's contract states:
Any and all disputes of any type whatsoever between Jackson Academy, parents/guardians, and/or student shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act,.... Parents/guardians and/or students expressly waive their right to a trial by jury.
The memo argues the arbitration clause applies to the Headmaster as well since he was acting within his capacity as an employee of the school. JA accuses the plaintiffs of including Wettech as a defendant so it can get around the arbitration clause.
After enduring weeks of negative publicity, the school could not resist the chance to drag the plaintiffs through some mud as it made its public case in the motion to compel arbitration.
Jackson Academy claimed it was justified in expelling young Voyles as his parents repeatedly tried to damage the school through "false claims, rumor, innuendo, and harassment." The supporting memorandum alleges:
In the spring of 2025, Jason Voyles suggested that JA had used the funds previously received from Yates not to make facilities improvements, but rather to pay public school students as an enrollment enticement or to help fund their tuition. The Voyles had no factual basis for the suggestion. To ease their concern, the Voyles were permitted to review invoices and other financial information showing how the Yates contribution was spent. The demonstration did not satisfy the Voyles, who continued to harass various members of the school staff, administration, and JA’s Board of Trustees.
During the meeting on May 9, 2025, the Voyles, and Mr. Voyles in particular, exhibited hostile, antagonizing and aggressive behavior, prompting JA staff to inquire about shouting and loud noises. Mr. (Palmer) Kennedy forcefully denied the Voyles’ accusations and explained that while they couldn’t provide specific accounting information pertaining to students, new transfer seniors were not eligible for tuition assistance so they could be assured that those students were not receiving any assistance from the school. Following the meeting, the Voyles requested access to the school’s by-laws and non-public accounting information, and they continued their complaints of perceived “illegal recruiting” improprieties and an asserted lack of transparency from the administration.
Jackson Academy addresses the issue of "discounts" for transfers:
Still unsatisfied, the Voyles made additional false accusations, this time accusing JA of recruiting prospective students through promises of “tuition discounts” which the Voyles had alleged to have significantly increased. JA does not offer or provide direct payments or tuition discounts as an inducement to attend, transfer, or participate in sports, and no student attends JA for free. JA also does not offer athletic scholarships or lower its academic standards for the sake of athletics. The only scholarships available are endowed scholarships for current JA students who have attended JA in the previous year or longer. In short, the Voyles’ allegations that JA was offering prospective public school transfers assistance beyond what was available to other students was unfounded and false, and Mr. Kennedy demonstrated that to the Voyles.
My senior year of high school we had a white homecoming queen and a black homecoming queen. Our black homecoming queen had 2 children. At one time we had so many fights, they took the silverware out of the cafeteria. In my senior English class, a very pregnant girl sitting by me went into labor. Many children received free lunch every day, and no one really discussed colleges or careers after high school. The glass windows in our trophy cases packed full of championship trophies were shattered by fights over and over. I know of a handful of kids that went on to college, and I only keep up with a few from my class. I have never been back since graduation day. My senior year of high school we had a white homecoming queen and a black homecoming queen. Our black homecoming queen had 2 children. At one time we had so many fights, they took the silverware out of the cafeteria. In my senior English class, a very pregnant girl sitting by me went into labor. Many children received free lunch every day, and no one really discussed colleges or careers after high school. The glass windows in our trophy cases packed full of championship trophies were shattered by fights over and over. I know of a handful of kids that went on to college, and I only keep up with a few from my class. I have never been back since graduation day.
The school inferred Mrs. Voyles was out of touch with reality as it dished more dirt on her:
Contrasting her experience of public school “culture” with that of her husband’s positive experience of attending JA, Carolyn suggested that JA was on a path of self-destruction caused by the school’s acceptance of bad elements. Carolyn expressed baseless concerns that students transferring from public school had suppressed JA’s academic standing. In reality, JA’s academic performance has increased over the time that the Voyles had been associated with the school. JA’s average ACT score for graduating students has been on an overall upward trend over the past five years. In fact, the top 50% of JA’s 2025 graduating class had an average ACT score of 31.3.
However, the defendant was not through with rubbing the plaintiff's nose in her own email:
Have you been to a public school? Have you seen the environment our coaches are unfairly plucking these kids out of and then expecting them to transform to a totally new culture with totally different expectations and rules? Kids in public schools are going through metal detectors. Are we going to add metal detectors if we continue to recruit students from public high schools without knowing much about their personal beliefs? My son’s safety is important, and we count on JA to make sure his school is safe.
Jackson Academy said Mrs. Voyles was "off-base" and her remarks were "offensive."
Matters came to a head on June 9 with the Voyles met with Wettech. Mr. Voyles admitted creating the flyer that provided the names and other information about transferring students who just happened to be athletes. The school terminated their son's enrollment.
The memo takes the Voyles to task for recording the conversations, pointing out such recording is prohibited unless all parties agree to allow it.
The case is assigned to Hinds County Court Judge Yemi Kings.
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Kingfish note: That email is going to play real well with a Hinds County judge. Real well.
Posted below: Memorandum in support of motion to compel, motion to compel, complaint, exhibit - contract.
*Mississippi Scoreboard reported in August 2025:
Jackson Academy hasn’t won a state football championship since a three-peat from 2009 to 2011. But the Raiders – led by four players, each with multiple SEC offers – are one of the favorites to bring home the gold this season.
Offensive lineman Caden Moss (No. 1 rated player in Mississippi and No. 4 rated offensive lineman in the country in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports), defensive lineman and Tennessee commitment Dereon Albert (No. 8 player in Mississippi and No. 28 defensive tackle in the Class of 2026), linebacker and Tennessee commitment TJ White (No. 3 player in Mississippi and No. 5 linebacker in the country in the Class of 2026), and wide receiver and North Carolina commitment O’Mari Johnson (rated No. 17 player in Mississippi and No. 35 athlete in the country) lead the charge for the Raiders.
No school in Mississippi has three players in the Top 20 in the Class of 2026 like JA and only defending MHSAA Class 7A state champion Tupelo has three in the Top 24.JA picked up more firepower this summer with the addition of six transfers, five from MHSAA Class 7A Clinton High, including last year’s starting quarterback and leading tackler, and one from Madison-Ridgeland Academy, who are all expected to make contributions to the already talented roster.
Senior Josef Walker (photo below) - Clinton’s starting quarterback last season – is rated as the No. 7 dual threat quarterback in Mississippi in the Class of 2026 by qbhitlist.com. Walker passed for 1,193 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 198 yards and two TDs. He passed for 387 yards and three TDs in a 65-62 upset of previously undefeated Brandon last season.Sophomore linebacker Adam Alexander led Clinton with 93 tackles last season as a freshman.Senior wide receiver Jaydann Hollins – who has offers from Georgia State and Samford – had 1,048 all-purpose yards, including 881 receiving yards and 11 TDs. He was one of the top receivers in MHSAA Class 7A last season.Senior running back Aaric Beasley was the second leader rusher at Clinton last season with 332 yards and four TDs.Junior outside linebacker Jaden Walker is the brother of Josef Walker.In addition to the Clinton five, senior tight end-linebacker Fletcher Cox comes over to JA from MRA.“We are trying to build a state championship football program here at JA,” said second-year JA head coach David Duggan, who has 38 years of experience as a college assistant coach. “We want to have a program where kids have a positive experience and learn about football and life, and we feel like we can do it better than anyone in the Metro Jackson area. All these kids that have come over from Clinton and MRA are great kids, and they will be outstanding student athletes at JA. We have a good foundation, and these players are going to help us be even better
“Josef is in competition at quarterback with three other players, Pruett James, who started last season, Carter Mathison, who started as a sophomore and part of last season, and Peyton Smith, who is a sophomore coming up from our ninth grade from last season.
“Jaydann is very fast, explosive and very dynamic with the ball in his hands. Aaric is built similar to Kingston Mays, who played running back for us last year. Adam’s uncle, Bryant Shaw, played for me in NFL Europe and found out I was coaching at JA. Adam had a great freshman season last year. Fletcher is tough and physical and is going to help us.”
JA has 10 returning starters from last year’s team, which finished 9-4 record and the MAIS Class 6A semifinals last season.Former Ole Miss All-SEC and NFL wide receiver Shay Hodge has been promoted to JA’s offensive coordinator when Chase Alkire left to take a head coaching job in Jacksonville, Fla. Rob Triplett has moved up from middle school head coach to running backs coach on the high school team.JA opens the season Aug. 29 with a road trip to Oak Forest, La. The Raiders’ first home game is Sept. 5 against Leake Academy and talented quarterback George Wilcox, who passed for Mississippi best 3,623 yards and 41 TDs last season.
The new recruits paid off as the Jackson Academy Raiders marched through the season 11-1, demolishing the competition as it won the MAIS 4A State Football Champeenship. JA averaged 41 points per game. It avenged its only loss to MRA (35-24) by thrashing MRA 35-0 in the playoffs. Hartsfield barely put up a fight as it went down 50-14 in the final. The Clinton transfers led the team throughout the season.
Kingfish note: That email is going to play real well with a Hinds County judge. Real well.
219 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 219 of 219@4:55
Did a school board member resign and move his family to Birmingham!!!!! Wasn’t his dad like an all time school board member? Give millions to JA?
Asking for all potential new students that aren’t from Clinton.
I’m not friends with Jackson Academy on Facebook but from what I hear they posted a kids signing at a junior college that’s never played at Jackson Academy. This is the second recruit that they have done that for.
What the hell. You are legitimately advertising recruiting by using these kids. These kids have never played for you but you are publicizing them. Let the floodgates come for the recruits. We are wide open at Jackson Academy. If you’re good at sports, we’ll find a way for a donor to pay for it!
Just go to their Facebook page and see if this is what you want you want for your kid. You go there your entire life, pay almost $200,000 and then a recruit comes in and take your kids position and Jackson Academy highlights them. Your kid sits the bench. And they were recruited and don’t pay a thing.
Check the coaches’ text messages!
Sorry @4:57, but Eddie kicking out a pompous ass, “You don’t know who I am”, and the filing that bomb of a motion doesn’t exactly convey weakness. The Voyles didn’t think he had the balls, because I am sure many HOS’s before him wouldn’t have, but they found out otherwise.
At least when the other private schools around the state highlight kids, they have actually played at their school!
2 recruits have never played an inning for JA and they post their signing days.
Wealthy kids that have been at JA for 20+ years move to a different state.
I think this bigger than an email sent by the Voyles
The Voyles have been relegated to the dustbin of irrelevance. In a few short years, nobody is going to remember them or even care. JA will continue to thrive and life will go on. Take my advice - get over yourself, because you are not that important.
It’s funny to me that the same few people seem to keep posting over and over. And these same people want so desperately for others to believe that families are “leaving in droves”. Yes, a few families left. Based on what we know now, and suspected then, JA is better off. Hate to tell you, but enrollment is going well as usual. But you haters keep hating.
I’d love to see litigation and full discovery. It would be great to know what other JA families (if any) were involved in the Voyles’ bigoted circle. Who were the 2 friends that Voyles shared the pdf with? I hope we all get to know.
Odd saying ALL public school kids go through metal detectors daily. My kids never went through one at Madison Central. And just remember, we had 29 national merit finalist at MC to
JA’s 2. Not bad for a stink hole public school.
4:55 is spot on!
Y’all didn’t think JUCO-palooza signing day was impressive?
Yawn.
@1:29’s idiot tool sheep statement is typical for those with a self-serving agenda that’s not in line with the one’s paying the bills. They can’t win the “you should pay tuition for recruits/kids that can help meathead coaches win championships” debate…so they do what Democrats have done for decades and play the Race Card.
Deal with the fact that JA is located in a part of Jackson that is going to sh*t. The neighborhoods surrounding it are trashing up BIG TIME. Sheffield is fine.....FOR NOW.
@9:32 I see you didn’t like my advice. I know it’s hard for someone with your ego to be told you don’t matter. But CCJ and Montrose isn’t far removed from Sheffield.
Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Voyles. We will recruit better next year.
Surely you aren’t that thick. JCC and Montrose are in a different world. Try Brecon, Hillview, Heatherwood, McLeod, Spann, Winchester, Wilhurst on an on. Cancer there grows daily. N
@1026- As a parent with a 10th grader, it breaks our hearts to know that is true. Shay has talked to the kids about a couple wide receivers and needing a QB since PJ left. There have been several line man that have already toward.
We love JA and are ok not winning Championships every year.
It was 10:09 who was describing the situation. My assumption was that the kid was excluded from the team(s). However, since team sports are not a part of my world, I don't know the lingo. So, since team sports seem to loom large in your own cosmology, I'll ask YOU what is meant by, "... expect as part of my tuition costs for my child to be able to compete in sports."???
Having a child in a mid-priced private school, is evidence of neither wealth nor privilege (particularly true of an under-50 Mississippian, like 10:09, who grew up in public schools, which speaks of an impoverished family). I doubt that10:09 is rich or privileged.
In Mississippi, even people who're struggling, and who are fairly oppressed, send their children to private schools. People limit their family size, to the number of children they KNOW they can afford to send to private schools. The only viable alternatives, now, are homeschooling (requires a level of affluence), and MOVING OUT OF THE SOUTH (adding to the state's Brain Drain crisis).
Grandparents impoverish themselves, subsidizing private school educations.
"Rich" means having enough money to not have to work. "Privileged" means being exempt from various things I'm not going to tell you about. (Being privileged includes knowing about possibilities totally forbidden to most of humanity. And why should I extend the privilege of knowing about those things, to YOU?) "Rules for THEE, but not for ME"... Remember leaked video from the Obama's big, unmasked party, in the middle of the "Pandemic" Lockdown, if you want a picture of "Privileged".
As for your assertion: "that's life", please remember that 10:09 was PAYING for something. When one pays for something, one expects to get it. Maybe if you were in the habit of actually, personally, paying for what you get...
Maybe I am not seeing the full picture. Why is JA pushing for arbitration and the Voyles are wanting a jury trial in Hinds County? It seems to me the parties in this case would want the exact opposite.
Carolyn and Jason Voyles would get obliterated by a jury made up of Jackson residents being shown her email.
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