Philadelphia Charter School Principal Resigns After Being Charged in Deadly Hit-and-Run

The principal of a Philadelphia charter school resigned after being arrested in connection to a deadly hit-and-run that occurred in 2017.

Jovan Weaver, the 37-year-old principal of John Wister Elementary School, is charged with vehicular homicide, accidents involving death or personal injury and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence.

The charges stem from a crash that occurred back on Dec. 26, 2017, in Philadelphia. Investigators said Weaver was driving a vehicle northbound at the intersection of City Avenue and 54th Street around 10 p.m. when he struck 58-year-old Anthony Rodgers as he was walking across.

Weaver allegedly fled the scene and responding officers found Rodgers unconscious on the road. He was taken to Lankenau Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after. The unoccupied hit-and-run vehicle was later found on the 4600 block of North 19th Street, police said.

After an investigation, Weaver was arrested on April 6 of this year. Mastery Charter Schools did not find out about the arrest until last week however, according to a spokesperson. Weaver was placed on administrative leave and then resigned. He informed staff members on Friday and parents were notified Monday, the spokesperson said.

Weaver and his work in education were profiled on a podcast in April of last year.