News Summary
Nicole Ballew Callaham, a former teacher from Anderson County, has been arrested for allegedly grooming and abusing a teenage student over two years. The investigation revealed misconduct between 2021 and 2023. Callaham has been charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct and is being held with a bond of $40,000. The case has raised serious concerns about student safety within educational environments.
Anderson County, South Carolina – Nicole Ballew Callaham, a 33-year-old former teacher from Anderson County, was arrested for allegedly grooming and abusing a teenage student over a two-year period. The investigation, initiated in May 2025, revealed that the misconduct began in 2021 and continued until the victim turned 18.
Authorities from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office reported that Callaham exhibited inappropriate grooming behavior towards a boy during his early teenage years, leading to a complicated and abusive relationship. It was discovered that Callaham signed the student out of school, took him to sports practices, and oversaw after-school activities, further intensifying the connection between them.
The extensive interactions between Callaham and the victim ultimately culminated in allegations of abuse, confirmed by the cooperation of the victim’s family and search warrants executed during the investigation. After reaching adulthood, the victim, Grant Strickland, decided to share his experience with the authorities, indicating that he needed time to process the trauma before coming forward.
Callaham has been charged with multiple counts related to the alleged abuse by both the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. In Anderson County, she faces three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Meanwhile, the Greenville Police Department has charged her with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and an additional four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child.
After the allegations were made public, Callaham resigned from her position at Anderson School District Five on May 21, 2025. She had been employed as a kindergarten teacher at Homeland Park Primary School since 2017. The Greenville Police Department’s involvement in the case is primarily due to the fact that the victim was a student at a school located in their jurisdiction.
The investigation has also prompted a parallel inquiry by the Clemson Police Department, seeking to understand the full scope of the alleged misconduct.
Following her arraignment, Callaham surrendered voluntarily to the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday morning. Her bond has been set at $40,000, with conditions that prohibit any contact with Strickland and his family. Her defense attorney has stated that Callaham is currently pregnant and has no previous criminal record.
The victim’s mother expressed her distress regarding how Callaham allegedly manipulated their family and exploited their trust, emphasizing the emotional and psychological ramifications of this situation. Strickland has also expressed the importance of raising awareness about similar incidents to prevent further occurrences.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and are encouraging any additional victims to come forward with information related to the case.
This incident highlights serious concerns within school environments and raises questions about the safety of students under the supervision of educators. The ongoing investigations across multiple jurisdictions underscore the seriousness with which these claims are being treated.
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Additional Resources
- WYFF 4
- Wikipedia: Teacher-student relationships
- WLTX
- Google Search: Teacher Misconduct
- Fox Carolina
- Google Scholar: Sexual Conduct with Minors
- WSPA
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sexual Abuse
- Fits News
- Google News: Teacher Arrested South Carolina
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