WOODBURY, Minn. – The principal of Woodbury High School plans to meet with students Wednesday after a substitute teacher allegedly reenacted the murder of George Floyd in class.
In a letter to families, principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner said the incident occurred Monday. She said it was unprovoked and happened during English classes for sophomores and seniors, adding that the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and police are now investigating.
Students reported that the substitute teacher said he thought students would like to hear about his life as a police officer, even though he is not an officer in the state of Minnesota.
Some of the events students have reported in class include a student being put on the floor in front of the class as part of a reenactment of police actions that resulted in Floyd’s murder.
Other allegations also included twisting a student’s arm behind the back and a demonstration of the pressure points on the chin and face.
The students also said the substitute teacher repeated racially harmful comments and sexist jokes, making comments that “police brutality isn’t real” and that “cops would make the best criminals” because “they know how to get away with it.” that he once got an “A” on a paper about how to get away with murder.
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Police said discussions with the school district about how to handle this investigation are just beginning, but the goal is to not cause further disruption to students, staff and the community.
Sorenson-Wagner said, “Allegations of staff misconduct are taken seriously,” and she also thanked the students for reporting the incident to them.
She added that her meeting with students on Wednesday is intended to provide a space where they can listen and process what happened in their classroom. She also said she would be available to talk to students after meeting with the class.
Sorenson-Wagner noted that the full report has been submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education and the Educator Licensing Department.
District leaders also say this individual will no longer be allowed on any district property and that they are working with law enforcement to investigate this incident.
Who can be a substitute teacher in Minnesota?
There is no simple answer to this. According to the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standard Board, it depends on what type of substitute teacher you are applying for.
There is such a thing as a ‘short-term substitute’, who can replace a regular teacher for a maximum of twenty days at a time. For that, you need a bachelor’s degree and one of several state licenses.
The restrictions are a little stricter as a long-term substitute. Retired teachers can also apply for a Lifetime Substitute Teaching License.
But there is also a state pilot program that allows someone to serve as a substitute if he or she has completed a district education and has at least an associate degree.
Alternatively, they may have a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency along with at least one year of work experience as an education support professional or paraprofessional in the hiring district.
