Woodbury: East Ridge teacher on leave following report of racial slur

A female mentor at East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on administrative leave Thursday after she reportedly repeatedly used a racial slur while talking with students authorities commented The facilitator was forthwith walked out of the building after students disclosed the staff member had used the slur stated Shawn Hogendorf a spokesman for South Washington County Schools The trainer who was not identified was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the assessment he stated In a letter sent to families Principal Jim Smokrovich wrote that he received a review Thursday morning that the staff member used a racial slur while discussing inappropriate comments a aspirant was making toward other students The staff member repeated the racial slur multiple times during the conversation Smokrovich wrote As soon as we were made aware of this situation we met with the students who disclosed what they heard the staff member say and connected with their families he wrote Understandably the students were upset by the use of the racial slur We are grateful to the students who were brave enough to bring this forward and to encouragement our East Ridge values Staff are available to meet with students if they are in need of additional encouragement to process this situation he wrote East Ridge does not tolerate derogatory discriminatory or racist language he wrote As educators we must be held to the highest manageable standard I offer my sincere apology for the actions that took place in our school Agents in the school district last fall banned a substitute mentor from its classrooms after he allegedly reenacted George Floyd s murder during classes at Woodbury High School Meanwhile the South Washington County school board on Thursday night voted - to update the district s racial equity and inclusion strategy to remove duplications and clarify definitions and language Board members Ryan Clarke and Eric Tessner dissented The rewritten program states that district administrators will condemn hate speech and expressions of racism xenophobia discrimination and ethnic or racial intolerance Hate speech is defined in the agenda as speech that either disparages demeans targets threatens or harasses a person or group based on protected class status Related Articles Inmate rights groups demand say in Stillwater prison closure plan Pioneer Press patio guide Wring every second out of summer at these Twin Cities spots Pioneer Press patio guide Along the water and scenic spots Truck driver tells trooper he was distracted by map before Washington County fatal crash Woodbury authorities seek info on rug connected to house fire