Mayport Elementary teacher and son of city council member arrested on charges of possession of child pornography

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thomas Hazouri, Jr., a second-grade teacher at Mayport Elementary and the son of Jacksonville City Council President Tommy Hazouri, Sr., was arrested Wednesday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

He was arrested on 25 charges of “possession of photographs/sexual performance by a child - ten or more images.”

According to The JSO Department of Corrections record, he is held on a minimum bond of $625,075.

Action News Jax spoke with Hazouri’s lawyer overnight. Hank Coxe isn’t revealing when he was first retained to represent Hazouri, Jr., but says they “offered to make him available to surrender at anytime” and they are “disappointed that didn’t happen.” Coxe expects Hazouri’s first appearance to be Thursday morning at 9 a.m.

Hazouri started working with DCPS back in 2003 as a substitute teacher. He was then hired as a full-time teacher in 2006 at Kernan Trail Elementary.

• Kernan Trail Elementary– 5th Grade (2006 – 2007)
• Kernan Trail Elementary – 2nd Grade (2007- 2014)
• Kernan Trail Elementary – 4th Grade (2014 – 2016)

In 2016 he resigned with DCPS.

Hazouri then returned as a full-time teacher at DCPS in 2018. He worked at Englewood Elementary as a 4th-grade teacher from 2018-2019, and the next year worked at Mayport Elementary as a 2nd-grade teacher in 2019-2020.

Statement from DCPS Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene:

“It is both alarming and disappointing to learn that one of our teachers is alleged to have exploited children through such abhorrent activities,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene. “As soon as we learned of the investigation, we took immediate action to ensure he had no further interaction with any of our students. Like all educators and parents, our thoughts and empathy go out to all victims of any form of child abuse. This behavior should not exist anywhere, least of all among those individuals in the educational setting. The district will continue to cooperate with JSO and any other investigative agency, and we will take appropriate action.”

Message sent to Mayport Elementary parents, from Principal Katie O’Connell:

“Good morning Mayport Elementary parents,

I wish I was notifying you with better news on the first day of school,

But unfortunately I want to share with you something you may have already seen in the media.

That is that one of our teachers, Thomas Lester Hazouri, was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

According to JSO, the charges are related to child pornography.

There are not a lot of details we know at this time, but I can tell you that we are in contact with JSO as they investigate.

Our Office of Professional Standards is also investigating.

I can also confirm that Mr. Hazouri was reassigned out of the classroom in late summer when we were first notified of an investigation.

Again, I am beyond disappointed to share this news.

It doesn’t reflect the high standards we have as a school community and district, and the value we place on care and safety for children.

As always, I thank you for your support and for being a part of the Mayport school community.”

Cox Media Group