On Thursday, the Madison County School District (MCSD) addressed what school officials called “a recent social media post circulating online that appears to involve a district staff member using a racial slur.”
In a social media post to Facebook around 12:30 p.m., the school district shared a statement from Superintendent Dr. Karen Pickles, who said school officials are taking the matter extremely seriously as “the language depicted in the post is unacceptable and stands in direct opposition to the core values of our district.”
MCSD went on to reveal that a formal investigation into the incident has launched in accordance with the school district’s protocols and policies.
WCTV is aware of two incidents circulating on social media, one allegedly involving a male staff member and another involving a female staff member.
Information reads: “The man pictured below is my daughter’s history teacher. His name is, Zachary Peterson. On February 5th while discussing a black history project he told my daughter and the entire class that he is allowed to use the N word because he’s a history teacher. He went on to say he don’t care about Black History just like he don’t care about Gay Pride Month. My daughter told him my mom would want to come here and speak with you about that. He told her “I don’t care if she does.” My husband and I schedule a parent/teacher conference for Feb 13th.
The morning of February 13th my husband, myself, and my daughter met with Dr. Blue (Dean of Students) and Peterson. We started off by letting him know how he offended our child and the other children in the classroom. We also explained the origin of that word. We then discussed how he shouldn’t have told them that he doesn’t care bout Black History Month and Gay Pride Month. My husband then looked Peterson in his eyes and told him how vile, disgusting, and offensive the word is so tell me in what capacity as a teacher do you feel like it’s ok to use that word. Peterson didn’t deny saying any of it, in fact he stood on it was ok for him to say what he did. He told us he was given permission to use the word. When asked who gave him permission he said the old Principle who is no longer working for the school. He then told us if he’s teaching and the word NIGGER comes up he says it. Yes, this man said the word in the meeting in front of us and Dr. Blue. Let me add that word isn’t in any history books at all or the curriculum. So that tells us that he just wants to use the word NIGGER! We told him how we just explained how hurtful the word is and he still said it in front of us. He didn’t seem to have a care in the world about how my daughter or the rest of us in the meeting felt about him saying it. After we couldn’t get that resolved Dr. Blue took notes and the matter went on to Dr. Cunningham (the principle).
On Feb 17th Dr. Cunningham called me to get my statement of what in the meeting. After I told her what happen, she explained that the word shouldn’t have been used at all. She also made it clear that she didn’t give anyone permission to use the word. She got a statement from everyone that was in the meeting and sent it in to the District Office. The District started an investigation the very next day. They removed Peterson from the classroom and let him go work to the District Office with the person who has to make the decision on what his consequences would be. They sent someone to interview my child and other children from his class. It took a week to investigate even though what he said wasn’t even in question. Peterson didn’t deny saying it and he also said it in front of us.
On Feb 23rd after school my daughter told me Mr. Peterson was back in the classroom. They failed to reach out to me and let me know the results of the investigation. I called the Principle to ask and she was out sick. So I called the District Office and spoke with the person who did the investigation. I asked him what were the results of the investigation and he told me that Karen Pickles (Superintendent) made the decision to give Peterson a Corrective Action Plan that has to be completed before school is out. I felt so insulted by her decision. I just told the investigator that we’ll voice our concerns Monday, March 2nd at the School Board Meeting. After an hour pass I got a call back stating Karen Pickles wants to meet with me Friday 27th. Mind you she hasn’t spoken with us at all during this investigation. She didn’t even have the decency to meet with us and our child to see how it has affected her at school. Now all of a sudden she wants to meet with me prior to the School Board Meeting on Monday. Well that won’t happened. I’m disgusted with the outcome and more disgusted with the fact that she gave this man a CAP after lying saying he can say NIGGER in class and saying in front of us and the Dean of Students. I think he should’ve taken accountability for his wrong doing and been held to a higher standard than the students he teaches. When the kids gets referrals for something they did wrong there’s no CAP for them. The teachers also have a code of conduct that they should adhere to. I feel like Karen Pickles is sending out the wrong message that using the word NIGGER is ok if you’re a white teacher. There was no compassion from her to any of the children or to us who had to witness using this word in front of us. I will say this is far from over. A complaint has been filed with the DOE on Peterson and on Karen Pickles for how she handled this matter. Karen Pickles didn’t get my vote, but for the people who did now you get to see the person that’s running our School District. I think she doesn’t care about our kids at all!!!
School Board Meeting is Monday March 2nd 6pm if anyone wants to voice their opinion on the matter..”
VIDEO HERE:
