ATLANTA, April 14 (UPI) -- An Atlanta judge orderd stiff sentences, ranging from probation to seven years in prison, to 10 former public school educators found guilty of cheating in standardized testing.

One by one, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter sentenced three of the educators, all regional directors in the city's school system, to seven years each in prison.


Sharon Davis-Williams and Tamara Cotman were each sentenced to 20 years, with seven years of incarceration and the balance as probation. They must also perform 2,000 hours of community service and pay a $25,000 fine. Michael Pitts received the same sentence with an additional five years to run concurrently on a charge of influencing a witness.

Two weeks ago, jurors found the group guilty of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by conspiring to change test answers to make a variety of schools look better and open to additional funding. Some of those convicted have said they are innocent.

During the sentencing hearing, Baxter told the court, "If you don't do what your supposed to do or break the law, they can bring you back to me and I can re-sentence you. If you do complete this probation and do all the conditions of community service, then you would not have a felony on your record."

In addition to the prison sentences in the cheating scandal, some were sentenced on lesser charges including making false statements. Others sentenced are:

-- Former testing coordinator Donald Bullock and teacher Pamela Cleveland, the only ones in the group to accept plea deals, were sentenced to five years probation. Bullock received an additional six months of weekends in jail. Cleveland was also sentenced to a one-year 7 p.m.-to-7-a.m. home confinement, 1,000 hours of community service to be served educating inmates and a $1,000 fine.

-- Dana Evans, the former principal of Dobbs Elementary School, was sentenced to one year in prison, four years probation and 1,000 hours of community service.

--Theresia Copeland, a former test coordinator, was sentenced to one year in prison, four years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.

-- Diane Buckner-Webb, a former teacher at Dunbar Elementary School, was sentenced to one year in prison, four years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.

-- Tabeeka Jordan, former assistant principal of Deerwood Academy, was sentenced to two years in prison, three years probation, 1,500 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.

-- Former teacher Angela Williamson was sentenced to two years in prison, three years probation, 1,500 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.

-- One other defendant was acquitted in the case and another, who gave birth on Saturday, is expected to be sentenced in August.