Principal found dead at Tennessee school; student held

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The principal of a small private school in Tennessee was found dead at the school Wednesday morning, and police say a 17-year-old student was taken into custody. No further information about the student is known.

The Associated Press said the dead woman had been identified as Suzette York, 49, a former science and math teacher turned school administrator. She reportedly had been the principal of the Memphis Junior Academy, a school with about 100 students that offers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classes, since 2008.

The school is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and aims to ‘provide a spiritually oriented education for children,’ according to its website. The school is located in Memphis.

York’s body was reportedly discovered by a teacher shortly after 11 a.m. Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said a student was taken into custody at the school, but a motive and the cause of death were not disclosed.

Memphis Junior Academy’s 2011-12 school year began Monday.

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-- Deborah Netburn