A principal from Florida has been suspended following the appearance of a Fetty Wap lyric under her name in the school’s yearbook, a quote she asserts she did not author.
Katie O’Connell, the principal of Trout Creek Academy located in St. Johns County, was placed on paid administrative leave on May 20. This decision was made as the district conducts a thorough investigation into allegations of “inappropriate conduct” due to a quote that appeared on the first page of the school’s 2025-26 yearbook.
The quote in question states, “Everybody hatin’, we just call them fans though! — Mrs. O’Connell.” This line originates from the rapper Fetty Wap’s 2015 hit “Trap Queen,” a song that includes themes such as drug dealing and strip clubs.
The situation escalated when a concerned parent reported the issue to Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen, describing the quote as “inappropriate and unprofessional” for someone leading a K-8 school, according to Jacksonville’s News4JAX.
“A principal should embody leadership, maturity, and professionalism,” the parent expressed. “Labeling criticism or concerned parents as ‘haters’ in a school publication conveys the wrong message to children and families.”
âA principal represents leadership, maturity, and professionalism,â the parent wrote. âReferring to criticism or concerned parents as âhatersâ in a school publication sends the wrong message to children and families.â
But emails and interviews included in the districtâs investigation suggest OâConnell may not have known the quote was included.
The schoolâs yearbook teacher said OâConnell reviewed the yearbook before publication and that the quote was not present in the final proof she saw.
âKatherine OâConnell was not aware that quote was going to be used in the 2025-2026 school yearbook,â the teacher wrote. âMs. OâConnell wasnât aware that quote was used until the yearbooks arrived.â
When questioned by investigators, the teacher said, âThe quote may not have been there. When Ms. OâConnell reviewed it with me, she mentioned her quote was not there. I mentioned it to the students who must have then put it in.â
Assistant Principal Samantha Sawruk also defended OâConnell, writing that administrators helped proofread the yearbook before submission and that the quote did not appear on the page at that time.
âThe quote on the first page … was not there during the proofreading done on April 9,â Sawruk wrote.
She also noted that the quote was attributed to âMrs. OâConnell,â while the principal typically signs communications as âMs. O.â
OâConnell has denied selecting or approving the lyric.
âI approved the yearbook twice on April 9, and so did my assistant principal, and that quote in that area was not even in the book,â she said.
She said parents never contacted her directly before taking complaints to district officials, social media and local news outlets.
âAll I needed was the time or the opportunity to have fixed an error that was made, and it wasnât made by me,â OâConnell said.
According to district documents, OâConnell was informed she would be placed on paid administrative leave and barred from school district property, Action News Jax repoted.
A separate letter stated the district was moving toward not reappointing her for the 2026-27 school year.
On Tuesday, Trout Creek Academyâs PTO announced retired educator Dr. Patrick Carmichael as interim principal while the investigation continues.
