The NAACP is speaking out against a private Gwinnett County school whose principal was supposedly dismissed after making racial remarks during its graduation ceremony.

Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia chapter of the NAACP, says he’s heard from dozens of parents whose children attended TNT Academy who received emails from principal Nancy Gordeuk on behalf of the school.

“They tell the parents that if they file complaints, that their children’s diploma may not be worth the paper that it’s printed on,” he says.

The Gwinnett chapter of the organization received a letter from the school’s board of directors last week saying Gordeuk had been dismissed.

Initially pleased with that response, Johnson says he no longer believes that to be the case especially since Gordeuk is the owner and founder of the school.

“She’s sending this out using the school’s email; she’s sending this out using the school’s letter and name,” he says.

Phil Murphy, executive director of the Georgia Accrediting Commission, confirms he too has received copies of an email sent to parents but from another staffer, not Gordeuk.

He says the information contained in the email, which says the student’s credits would not transfer if the school lost its accreditation, is incorrect.  He says that would only occur after any vote the commission may take.  No students who previously attended the school would be affected.

Murphy says the commission can only begin an investigation once a “stakeholder”, meaning a student, parent, or staffer, files a complaint against the school alleging it has violated the commission’s standards.  So far, none have been filed.

Johnson is calling on the State Board of Education to investigate not only TNT Academy but other schools considered non-traditional education center.

“In real part, they are little more than diploma paper mills,” he says.  “They charge the parents exorbitant tuition fees and give them little in return for it.”

No one answered the phone at TNT Academy when WSB’s Sandra Parrish called to get a comment regarding Johnson’s allegations.