A Message From The Publisher
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
“Dear School Board Members and Superintendent, It has come to my attention that a teacher who is white and female, and who has been alleged to have screamed over and over and over again, the N-word, in the face of a Black ESE student at Cross Creek School, will be returning to work at Cross Creek next week without an investigation and findings and without any discipline.” Lisa Maxwell, Executive Director BPAA
This incident, though it occurred back in November (2020), was brought to my attention almost two weeks ago. I immediately reached out to the superintendent and a school board member. This situation occurred at a school in the Broward County Public School System for ESE (special students). The email alleged and confirmed that one of the teachers in a situation with a student in a classroom used the N-word several times in this interaction with the student. While behavior techs were called in to remove the student from the situation, it was witnessed by them and reported to proper authorities. Not playing the race card, however, the male student is Black, and the teacher is a white female. Without going into any technical parts of this situation, other than there was a hearing concerning this incident the teacher was allowed back into the classroom without any discipline or suspension however she was given three days to prepare for her return to the classroom. It is reported that she is back in the same classroom as the student. We often ask ourselves; “how does our systems continue to fail our kids?” Here is a prime example of a situation that can precipitate further unwanted circumstances for both the student and the teacher. Yes as in all situations there are three sides to every story, what someone says, what someone else says and then there is the truth. The truth is, if our ‘special need’ students with behavioral problems our left to engage with knowing and alleged potential adversaries the outcome does not always turn out good. “Students at Cross Creek are there for a reason; for a safe and secure environment in which they are afforded appropriate supports to flourish. They are met with a motto to “Define your own destiny.” What destiny will BCPS define for these students and those who serve them in its handling of this incident?” Jacqui Luscombe, ESE Advisory Chair.
We all have to take the necessary steps to “keep our house in order end of quote and spring cleaning can be a helpful tool.
