The substitute teacher accused of reenacting the George Floyd police restraint at Woodbury High School has been placed on administrative leave by the City of Prescott and dropped by the temp agency Teachers on Call.
The individual has been a patrol officer in Prescott for two years. A statement from the city and police department called the allegations “disturbing,” adding that “our deepest sympathies go out to the South Washington (County) School District, staff and students.”
He was off-duty when teaching at the school. The statement says an internal investigation will be conducted. The officer did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Teachers On Call supplied the substitute to the district and says in a statement it is “deeply concerned about the reported misconduct.”
The school’s principal said in a statement that the substitute teacher placed a student on the ground and reenacted the restraint used in the murder of Floyd in May 2020. His killing sparked protests of racial injustice in Minneapolis and around the world.
The teacher, who was a substitute in English classes, told students he was a police officer but the district does not believe he is licensed in Minnesota. School officials say he engaged in racially harmful actions including twisting a student’s arm behind the student’s back and showed pressure points on the chin, fake punching a student with his fist “really close” to the student’s face, mimicking holding up a gun and pointing it at students, and repeatedly making racially-harmful comments and telling sexist jokes.
Teachers on Call, a Kelly Education Company with an office in Bloomington, said its substitute teachers undergo a rigorous screening process that meets the standards of the Minnesota Department of Education as well as screenings that exceed those requirements.
“This includes comprehensive background and fingerprint checks, which include searches of local, state, and national criminal records—including crimes against children—and a search of the National Sex Offender Registry,” the company stated. “Our review system strictly adheres to all state and district requirements, prioritizing safety and security in educational environments. The substitute educator involved in the reported misconduct passed all required background screens before being placed on assignment.”
The school district asked the Woodbury Police Department to investigate. Public Safety Director Jason Posel said the department is disturbed by the preliminary information it received, adding that the individual has no affiliation with Woodbury Public Safety.
“We value our relationship with the South Washington County School District and will continue to work closely with them,” Posel said in an emailed statement. “The safety of the students, teachers, staff and our community is our top priority. We will investigate this incident to the fullest extent, while showing compassion to the students impacted.”
