TEMPE, AZ — The allegations against Kolby Granville surfaced in January 2017 after several current and former students at Tempe Preparatory Academy accused him of sexual advances. Some even claimed that he gave alcohol to recent graduates.
Granville was fired from his position at Tempe Preparatory Academy shortly afterward but held onto his teaching certificate until August.
The Arizona Board of Education's website says Granville voluntarily surrendered his license on August 22, even though the Board already had a hearing scheduled for September 10 to decide on whether or not to revoke it themselves.
“I don’t know if it was the pressure or anxiety, but I just think that he knew that he was going to lose it," said Jessica Behrens, an aspiring teacher, and once a close ally to Granville. "He could either lose it voluntarily or involuntarily surrender it.”
Behrens spoke out at several city council meetings in April, where city leaders eventually voted to remove him from office.
“There are so many different ways he took advantage of his status and his profile," said Behrens. "Whether it’s as a teacher, or as an attorney, or as a council member."
“I think Mr. Granville’s decision to voluntarily surrender his teaching certificate is very telling," added current Tempe councilman Randy Keating. "This, while unsurprising only bolsters my opinion that the City Council did the right thing when we unanimously voted to expel him from office.”
ABC15 reached out to Granville for comment but never received a response.
The Arizona Board of Education will decide to accept the voluntary surrender during their regularly scheduled board meeting on September 23.
The Boards website lists this as their recommendation before the vote:
"It is recommended that the State Board of Education accepts the voluntary surrender of any and all certificates held by Kolby Granville and that all states and territories be so notified. "
