The middle school teacher, who was recorded using racial slurs, including the n-word, in the classroom has resigned from her position. The school district officials have announced that the educator chose to resign rather than move forward with termination proceedings. School officials said their investigation revealed that the teacher not only used racist language while teaching, but she continued to use it during the investigation process. In the recording, the educator is heard telling her 12 and 13-year-old students that some words have lost their meaning over time, arguing the n-word is no longer offensive.
The seventh-grade teacher at Kit Carson International Academy in California, Katherine Sanders, reportedly used a racial slur in front of students last year. The Spanish teacher chose to resign rather than challenge her termination, school district officials announced Monday.
The SCUSD released a statement and said that the teacher who used racist language in a classroom last June no longer works for the district. The Spanish teacher chose to resign, effective April 30, rather than move forward with termination proceedings.
She was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 21. But, school officials said their investigation revealed that the teacher not only used racist language while teaching, but she continued to use it during the investigation process, CBS Local reports.
The Spanish teacher, who is white, compared the racist term to the f-word during a lesson discussing language, on the same day seniors graduated from the school.
In the recording, the educator is heard telling her 12 and 13-year-old students that some words have lost their meaning over time, arguing the n-word is no longer offensive. “I know the f-word is something we hear constantly. It used to be a nasty, ugly word and now it’s like the word [n-word] which everybody says or [n-word]. Which used to be a horrible ugly word as well and it’s not anymore somehow.” the middle school teacher said.
The school district’s community liaison, Mark Harris, announced that Katherine Sanders, the school teacher at the focus of the investigation, was set be fired after the district determined her conduct was severe enough to call for her dismissal.
Superintendent Jorge Aguilar released the following statement:
“To prevent incidents involving racism and to make our schools more supportive and welcoming to all, the district has implemented mandatory anti-racism training for all staff. But the work cannot end there. We must continue to confront and interrupt racism so our schools can stay focused on creating equitable learning opportunities for all students.”
According to FOX40, the educator was removed from the classroom following the incident and placed on administrative leave during an investigation.
On Monday, the school administrators announced that the investigation determined the Spanish teacher used racist language during a lesson and continued to use it during the investigative process.
Local news outlets reported that the educator’s words caused an outrage from students, parents, and community leaders who then immediately called for her termination following the initial incident.
The school district board president, Christina Pritchett, released the following statement: “By taking swift and aggressive action in this case, SCUSD sent a clear message that racist language by district employees will be addressed.”