Principal and teacher in Florida put on leave following discrimination against Black students at an assembly

Principal and Teacher Placed on Leave After Holding Assembly for Black Students to Improve Performance

The principal and a teacher at Bunnell Elementary School in Flagler County, Florida, have been put on paid administrative leave following an assembly that was exclusively held for fourth and fifth-grade Black students. During the assembly, the students were collectively told to improve their school performance, regardless of their individual academic standings. The school district has deemed this action inappropriate, and an investigation is currently underway.

The assembly took place on August 18, and only African American students from the two grades were invited to participate. The assembly utilized a PowerPoint presentation outlining the goals and objectives for the 2023-2024 school year, which included a statement indicating that African American students had underperformed on standardized assessments over the past three years. This data was presented to the students, which led to concerns about the assembly’s intention and impact.

Flagler County School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro stated that the presentation was in response to the Florida Department of Education’s requirement for annual reporting on the performance of specific student subgroups, including African American students. However, Massaro acknowledged that the assembly should not have been conducted in this manner and expressed her apologies to the affected students and their families.

Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore also addressed the incident, accepting responsibility for the lapse in judgment and promising a thorough investigation. Moore has personally reached out to the majority of the impacted families, engaging in conversations about how to move forward as a community and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

In the past, discussions about student performance were typically conducted on an individual basis or during parent-teacher conferences. The intention of the assembly was to provide students with a clear understanding of their academic standing and to implement strategies and interventions for their success. However, the lack of communication with parents regarding the assembly and its purpose has been identified as a significant oversight by the school district.

Principal Donelle Evensen, who was responsible for planning the assembly, has not yet provided a comment on the incident. Moore has spoken with Evensen to gain insight into the decision-making process leading up to the assembly and the steps taken, or not taken, before and after it. While acknowledging that there was no malicious intent, Moore emphasized the importance of involving parents and guardians in their children’s educational journey and ensuring their active participation.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and Flagler County Schools is committed to providing a transparent and accountable response. The district aims to learn from this experience and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-26 15:36:00