Broward County Public Schools Allows Teacher Who Used Racial Slursto Return to the Classroom

Broward County Public Schools Allows Teacher Who Used Racial Slurs to Return to the Classroom

By Mareo Hood

The power of a teacher is unparalleled. The unique nature of being an educator who often times spends more time with a child than some parents. An educator has the ability to teach, shape, and mold a child’s life 7 days a week, 10 months out of the year. We all can think back to our childhood and recall those positive teachers, who cared for us every day in so many special ways. The teachers who took the extra time to teach a math concept, helped resolve a conflict with a peer, gave that extra snack when we were hungry, talked us through a difficult situation. The list goes on and on as to how influential an educator can be when it comes to building a child’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and overall success.

On the flip side of the educational spectrum, we have also had those educators who discourage, belittle, disrespect, and ultimately attempt to shatter the hopes and dreams of children. Teachers who have expressed to a student they could not become a doctor, lawyer, rapper, professional athlete. Those teachers who attempted to minimize a child’s potential and discourage them from making their dreams a reality. Those educators who make a child feel like dropping out of school, feel worthless, and less of a human being.

Broward County Public School is the 6^th largest school system in the United States, with an extremely diverse population of families and educators. The district claims to prohibit discrimination based on age, color, sex, and disability, this claim however, is a complete falsehood.

In November of 2020, a Caucasian teacher at Cross Creek School – a specialized school for students with emotional disabilities, in Pompano Beach repeatedly used the “N” word in the classroom. This incident was witnessed by multiple students in person and online, along with three staff members. When two of the staff that witnessed this racial onslaught inquired as to the rationale for her racial slurs, she stated boldly to them, who also happened to be African American males, that she wanted to let the student know how it felt. The student calls her the “N” word every day and it made her feel good to say the “N” word.

This incident was immediately reported to the school Administration, who did a phenomenal job of immediately following procedures to have the incident investigated.  The teacher, who was not a Broward Teachers Union member, immediately joined after the incident. The Broward Teachers Union quickly accepted her membership and represented her to the fullest.

This comes with outrage from several staff members and community leaders as well. The investigation was halted at someone’s desk and was not even brought to the professional standards committee. When this outrageous incident and the outcome were brought to the Broward Superintendent and board members, it was met with predominately deaf ears.

The Broward Teacher Union and Broward Public Schools have set precedence by allowing an admitted racist teacher to return to the classroom without any disciplinary action. They clearly have chosen to violate the rights of the staff and students of color, along with violating the rights of children with disabilities. These two entities are not aligned to protect rights, well-being, and safety of its staff and students.

Nationally and historically, we continue to see the impact of racial inequalities and discrimination. We continuously fight to protect our civil rights and stand for equality. The actions of Broward County Public Schools and the Broward Teachers Union exacerbate discrimination and hate of not only people of color, but children with disabilities.

This is a call for immediate action NOW! This racist teacher, Broward County Public Schools, and the Broward Teachers Union need to be held accountable for their disgraceful actions and decisions. If this decision is allowed to stand, we are in jeopardy of increased acceptance of racial hate, violence, and decreased protection of people with disabilities within the classroom. We need teachers and a system that truly support equality, protect civil rights, build outstanding citizens, oppose injustices’ and hold all members accountable for their actions.

If you are outraged about these facts above, you are encouraged to contact Broward County Public Schools, Broward Teacher Union, along with any organization that support and protect the rights of educators, children, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. The undercover systemic racial decisions that would allow such a detrimental educator to continue to be exposed to children and continue to work with individuals of color need to be abolished. Eradication of those who support racial injustices and discrimination in the public sphere is imperative to a safe and respected educational system in Broward County and our country as a whole.