Photos: Key figure pleads guilty in Atlanta cheating scandal

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Key figure pleads guilty in Atlanta cheating scandal

Christopher Waller listens to terms of his plea agreement from Fulton prosecutor Fani Willis during the hearing. Waller, the former principal of Parks Middle School, sits with his attorney, Don Samuel (right), before he pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Waller avoided prison time as a first-time offender. Instead, he must pay $50,000 in fines and restitution, serve five years of probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and apologize.Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Christopher Waller, the former principal of Parks Middle School, sits with his attorneys, John Garland (left) and Don Samuel (right), as he pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Waller avoided prison time as a first-time offender. Instead, he must pay $50,000 in fines and restitution, serve five years of probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and apologize.Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Christopher Waller, the former principal of Parks Middle School, sits with his attorney, Don Samuel (right), before he pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Waller avoided prison time as a first-time offender. Instead, he must pay $50,000 in fines and restitution, serve five years of probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and apologize.Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Sandra Ward, sits with her attorney Page Pate during the hearing. Ward. a former administrator at Parks Middle School, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. She was sentenced to serve one year probation, repay $5,000 she received in bonus money, perform 250 hours of community service and cooperate with the prosecution. Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Fulton prosecutor Clint Rucker outlines the plea agreement with Sandra Ward during the hearing. Ward. a former administrator at Parks Middle School, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. She was sentenced to serve one year probation, repay $5,000 she received in bonus money, perform 250 hours of community service and cooperate with the prosecution. Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Christopher Waller, the former principal of Parks Middle School, sits with his attorney, Don Samuel (left), before he pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Waller avoided prison time as a first-time offender. Instead, he must pay $50,000 in fines and restitution, serve five years of probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and apologize.Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

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Christopher Waller listens to terms of his plea agreement from Fulton prosecutor Fani Willis during the hearing. Waller, the former principal of Parks Middle School, sits with his attorney, Don Samuel (right), before he pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Waller avoided prison time as a first-time offender. Instead, he must pay $50,000 in fines and restitution, serve five years of probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and apologize.Educators in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal enter pleas before Judge Jerry Baxter in Fulton County Superior Court Friday, February 21, 2014. Any defendants in the widespread Atlanta Public Schools cheating case who don't make guilty pleas by the end of Friday will likely go on trial this spring, including Superintendent Beverly Hall and senior members of her staff. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

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