Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is providing mental health services for families after the arrest of two staff members who have been charged with sexual crimes involving children. 

Michael Swiney, 37, is facing multiple felony counts after turning himself in on June 3, according to a release from the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD). 

Swiney was indicted on 11 felony counts on June 1, which included three counts of indecent liberties, seven counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery.

Swiney was the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) coach, an unlicensed position, at Hollymead Elementary from the fall of 2023. Prior to that he worked at Woodbrook Elementary as SEL coach and had worked in the school division since December 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile. A victim came forward in January prompting the investigation, ACPD said.   

“Further investigation revealed three additional juvenile victims who also reported unwanted sexual contact between August 2024 and January 2026,” said ACPD’s news release. 

ACPS held a “community conversation” on June 10 at Hollymead Elementary, where the ACPD acting Chief of Police, Maj. Camille Stewart, said the case was taken directly to a grand jury. “I will also tell you that for these types of cases, we like to avoid a preliminary hearing and go directly to grand jury because it saves our victims from having to testify and go through that trauma twice,” she said.

During the community meeting, parents expressed anger and frustration about the situation and asked why they were not informed of the allegations against Swiney sooner. Some parents demanded that ACPS Superintendent Matthew Haas and Hollymead Principal Joseph McCauley take accountability for Swiney’s actions and for not communicating with families. 

Other parents said their concerns about Swiney were consistently dismissed and ignored by McCauley. Haas said he didn’t inform parents sooner because he did not want to interfere with the police investigation. McCauley apologized and said that the allegations against Swiney, under his tenure at the school, would “haunt [him] for the rest of his life.”

The Albemarle County School Board asked Haas to resign during the June 11 school board meeting. Under the terms of a resignation agreement between Haas and the school board announced June 20, he resigned with immediate effect and will receive pay and benefits through June 2027. His “base pay will increase 3.75% to $257,165.67 from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and an $800 bonus will be paid in June 2026,” according to an ACPS news release.   

Former Albemarle County Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Haas is pictured here speaking in November 2018 after stepping into the role of superintendent. Haas agreed to resign with immediate effect under an agreement with the school board that was announced June 20, 2026, following news that two ACPS staffers had been arrested and charged with sexual crimes against children. Under the agreement, Haas will receive pay and benefits through June 30, 2027. Credit: Josh Mandell/Charlottesville Tomorrow

Swiney’s arrest came three months after a 5th-grade teacher at Woodbrook Elementary, Nicolas Clark, 29, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distributing child pornography, according to ACPD. 

Both Swiney and Clark are being held at the Charlottesville-Albemarle County Jail without bond. 

Dr. Chandra Hayes was named interim superintendent on June 17, by the ACPS school board.

McCauley was placed on administrative leave, pending an internal investigation, according to a message sent to parents by ACPS on June 15.

Charlottesville Tomorrow will report more on these developments. In the meantime, we’ve compiled a list of some available resources for families: 

Local mental health services

  • ACPS is providing mental health services for the community, at Journey Middle School, 210 Lambs Lane, Charlottesville, 22901. Beginning June 18, parents can visit on Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Facilitated small group sessions are also offered on Thursdays at the following times: 
      • 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
      • 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
      • 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    • For more information, families can contact Miles Nelson, the ACPS Coordinator of mental health and wellness, by email at mnelson[AT]k12albemarle[DOT]org.  
  • ACPS also has a free Family Assistance Center. Families can request help by filling out the ACPS Family Assistance Center Help Form, which is available in English, or Spanish. Chinese and Dari versions of these forms will be available soon. 
  • Region Ten Community Board manages a 24-hour crisis hotline for folks experiencing mental health emergencies for both English and Spanish speakers. Access to the hotline is free. For appointments, fees are income-driven on a sliding scale, with some services covered by Medicaid/FAMIS. You can reach Region Ten at 434-972-1800.
  • ReadyKids is a Charlottesville-based nonprofit offering free counseling to children and their families who have experienced trauma. There is a waitlist depending on the complexity of the counseling needed, but you can contact them to get more information at 434-296-4118. You can also reach the referrals coordinator at 434.906.0763 or counselingreferrals[AT]readykidscville[DOT]org.
  • Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) provides advocacy for those who may need it. They provide escorts to court appearances, hospital visits and a crisis response team. Their 24-hour hotline is 434-977-7273, and office number is 434-295-7273.

National resources

  • The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673 as well as via online chat, text and WhatsApp in English and Spanish. The hotline is free and confidential and is operated by RAINN, a nonprofit partially funded by the Office for Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • If a parent or guardian needs tips on how to speak to their child about child abuse, THORN, a nonprofit focused on child safety, provides free online discussion guides. 

Reporting to the police 

  • Any caregivers who suspect their child has been subjected to abuse should call 911 in any situation where there is an immediate threat, ACPD said. For all other police matters, including reporting crimes, suspicious activity, or requesting an officer, people can call their non-emergency number at 434-977-9041. 
  • If there are any parents whose children would like to come forward in the Michael Swiney case, they should call Detective Godfrey with ACPD’s Criminal Investigations Division at 434-296-5807.

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