WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – A staff member at East Ridge High School in Woodbury was removed from the building yesterday after students reported the use of a racial slur.
According to a letter received by parents from school principal Jim Smokrovich, “a staff member used the N-word while discussing inappropriate comments a student was making toward other students. The staff member repeated the racial slur multiple times during the conversation.”
Smokrovich said when school leaders were told of the incident they met with students who reported the incident and also connected with their families. “Understandably, the students were upset by the use of the racial slur. “ Smokrovich stated. “We are grateful to the students who were brave enough to bring this forward and to support our East Ridge values.”
The school’s inclusion center will be open through next week. The school’s inclusion center, staffed by a full-time cultural liaison, provides a safe space for students to build community and ownership. Staff will be available if students need support to process this incident.
Shawn Hogendorf, director of communications and community relations for South Washington County Schools, said the conversation happened in a ninth-grade classroom, but added that he could not provide more details or context while the incident is being investigated.
“Understandably, many of the students in the class were upset and disappointed by the word choice of their teacher — as it is never appropriate for a staff member to use or repeatedly use a racial slur in our schools,” Hogendorf said. “It’s also important to note that students who learned about this incident from their classmates and school communication were also impacted by the use of racialized language in the classroom.”
Hogendorf said a student leadership coalition met Thursday to discuss the incident. “The goal of that discussion was transparency and to ensure their voice was a main driver in creating the restoration plan that will be in place starting next week when students return.”
