Former charter administrator charged with stealing school funds

The former principal of aChicago charter school forced to close because of financial mismanagement has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the school to go on spending sprees in high-end stores. Helen Hawkins is accused of racking up more than $250,000 on an American Express Credit Card belonging to Triumphant Charter School. The school's charter was taken away in 2005 after officials from Triumphant failed to turn in required financial audits to the Chicago district for several years.

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