A Georgia elementary school assistant principal has been accused of brazenly stealing 98 items worth about $1,000 from Walmart using a “stacking” scheme at self-checkout kiosks.

Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, was arrested Monday by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office after authorities were alerted that she had been swiping merchandise from the retail giant in Woodstock, about 30 miles outside Atlanta, for more than two months, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Shaw — an assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School — allegedly stole 98 items valued at $943.97 from Walmart between November and December.

Assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School, Courtney Shaw, has been accused of stealing 98 items worth approximately $1,000 from Walmart by using a self-checkout “stacking” scheme.
Free Home Elementary School assistant principal Courtney Shaw has been accused of stealing 98 items worth approximately $1,000 from Walmart by using a self-checkout “stacking” scheme.Cherokee Sheriff’s Office

Investigators said Shaw used a “stacking” method at self-checkout kiosks, placing multiple items on top of one another and scanning only one before leaving the store.

A Walmart employee provided authorities with surveillance footage of the alleged thefts on Jan. 12 and used a driver’s license database to identify Shaw as the suspect, according to the outlet.

Authorities said two suspicious vehicles seen in the surveillance footage — a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee — were registered to Shaw and later located at her residence.

Shaw was booked into the Cherokee County jail and charged with one felony count of shoplifting following her arrest on Monday.

The mother of one was released later that day on a $4,875 bond.

Shaw — an assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School — allegedly stole 98 items valued at $943.97 from Walmart between November and December.
Shaw allegedly stole 98 items valued at $943.97 from Walmart between November and December.Courtney Shaw/Facebook

Officials at Free Home Elementary School in Cherokee County said Shaw has been placed on administrative leave.

“Immediately upon these allegations being reported, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations,” the district told Fox 5 Atlanta.

“Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated.”

The veteran educator’s career spans more than two decades and includes leadership roles as an assistant principal at two other elementary schools.

Investigators said Shaw used a “stacking” method at self-checkout kiosks, placing multiple items on top of one another and scanning only one before leaving the store.
Investigators said Shaw used a “stacking” method at self-checkout kiosks, placing multiple items on top of one another and scanning only one before leaving the store.REUTERS

Her career began as a fifth-grade teacher in North Carolina before teaching multiple grades in Florida, according to the school’s website.

After transitioning into educational leadership in 2012 as assistant principal at Oak Grove Fine Arts Academy, Shaw was appointed assistant principal at Bascomb Elementary in 2016, a role she held for eight years.

In 2024, Shaw joined Free Home as the school’s first full-time assistant principal, bringing 24 years of educational experience.

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The school praised Shaw on its website, writing, “She brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Assistant Principal at Free Home.”

Shaw is not the first high-ranking school official accused of using Walmart self-checkout to steal items.

In Florida, Bok Academy North principal Gregory Lewis was at a Walmart in Polk County in March 2025 when an asset protection officer observed him “skip scanning” at the self-checkout.