Substitute pins student to ground reenacting George Floyd murder, Minnesota school says
A substitute teacher accused of reenacting the murder of George Floyd with a high school student has now been banned from stepping foot on the schools of a Minnesota district, an administrator said.
"This reported behavior is reprehensible," said Woodbury High School Principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner, who detailed the numerous allegations in a letter to parents obtained by McClatchy News. "I am embarrassed, and I am sorry this happened to our students."
The substitute teacher, who the principal did not name, taught four classes at the Woodbury school Monday, Oct. 14. In those classes, he exhibited "inappropriate and racially-harmful behavior," Sorenson-Wagner said.
According to the principal, students said the substitute told them "he thought students would want to hear about his life as a police officer." Sorenson-Wagner said the substitute is not a police officer in Minnesota, but it's unclear where he was or is employed.
Listing more than 10 wrongdoings, the principal began by saying the substitute put a high schooler to the ground as he reenacted the actions that led to the murder of George Floyd.
A photo obtained by Bring Me The News shows the substitute putting his knee to the neck or back of a student. Floyd, whose May 25, 2020, death brought national attention and the murder conviction of now-former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, died in a similar way.
The substitute told students "police brutality isn't real," while also twisting a student's arm behind their back and demonstrating where various pressure points are located, the principal said.
Sorenson-Wagner also said the teacher invaded the personal space of students and told sexist jokes. Furthermore, he is accused of mimicking holding a gun and pointing it at students.
The school is investigating the series of incidents with the Woodbury Police Department, the principal said. In a statement to KMSP, Woodbury Public Safety said it was "disturbed" by the allegations.
"The substitute teacher who was involved in this situation has no affiliation with Woodbury Public Safety," the department said. "We value our relationship with the South Washington County School District and will continue to work closely with them."
The principal said the school is in contact with Teachers on Call, its substitute-contracted vendor, to ensure the man is removed from its list of substitute teachers.
"The reported actions are not, and will not, be tolerated at Woodbury High School or in South Washington County Schools," Sorenson-Wagner said in the letter.
Woodbury is about a 20-mile drive east from Minneapolis.
