BLACK LIVES MATTER. NBC5’s MATT LEIGHTON HAS REACTION FROM PARENTS… WINDSOR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TIFFANY RILEY IS NOW ON PAID LEAVE AFTER A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY THE MOUNT ASCUTNEY SCHOOL BOARD POINTING TO THIS FACEBOOK POST, READING IN PART “While I want to get behind BLM, I do not think people should be made to feel they have to choose black race over human race. While I understand the urgency to feel compelled to advocate for black lives, what about our fellow law enforcement?” PARENTS SEEM SPLIT ON THE RILEY’S POST <KENDRA BOOTH- MASLOWSKI / PARENT – I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING GOOD ETHICS AND MORALS TO OUR KIDS AND SOMEONE WHO’S IN THAT POSITION SHOULD BE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT> <BRENDA KEANISON / PARENT – I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS THAT SERIOUS. I MEAN I KNOW TO SOME PEOPLE IT MIGHT BE SERIOUS BUT I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE REAL SENSITIVE ABOUT THINGS NOW A DAYS ESPECIALLY> A STATEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD READS IN PART They were followed later by a follow up Facebook post, which acknowledged no culpability, expressed no specific contrition or empathy, and showed no humility. <KENDRA BOOTH- MASLOWSKI / PARENT – PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS BUT I THINK IN THAT TYPE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE, I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE’RE TEACHING OUR KIDS THAT THERE’S A BETTER WAY TO BE ABOUT IT> SOME FEEL DIFFERENTLY <BRENDA KEANISON / PARENT – I FEEL THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THE STORY PEOPLE DIDN’T HEAR. I FEEL IT WAS LIKE IT WAS ONE PIECE OF THE DIALOGUE THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT. I FEEL THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THE STORY THAT SHOULD BE HEARD BEFORE SHE’S CRUCIFIED> IN THE END, ONE PARENT SAYS SHE HOPES PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER <BRENDA KEANISON / PARENT –
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Vermont principal fired for social media post about Black Lives Matter movement
Updated: 3:03 PM EDT Oct 19, 2020
A white Vermont principal has been fired for a Facebook post she made in June that was critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. In a 50-page decision from the Mount Ascutney School Board, released Friday, members concluded that principal Tiffany Riley’s actions were “inconsistent with the expectations for a principal.” Read the full decisionThe June 10 post from Riley read, in part, “I firmly believe that Black Lives Matter, but I DO NOT agree with the coercive measures taken to get to this point across; some of which are falsified in an attempt to prove a point. While I want to get behind BLM, I do not think people should be made to feel they have to choose black race over human race.” According to the decision, the Riley initially refused to delete the post despite being instructed to do so by Superintendent David Baker. It also states that public comments, emails and text messages began “pouring in” to school district officials in the day after the post was published. Riley would ultimately delete the post before making a second post on the subject the next day, which school board members said failed to show culpability or empathy. “While self-reflecting, researching, learning, and trying to make myself more aware of the struggles of the BLM movement, I recently made a public post that unintentionally offended many people,” a second post read. “I understand the struggles of the Black lives community and stand with them in the fight against racism. Prejudice, discrimination and racism has no place in the world. I love and support my community and will continue to reflect on, learn from, and continue to pursue equity moving forward.”Riley was placed on paid administrative leave the following day. The board voted unanimously to terminate Riley on July 27, pending an evidentiary hearing. The board’s decision prompted a small group to gather in Windsor and call for her reinstatement, also demanding an apology from the board. The Facebook account Riley used to make the posts has since been deleted.
A white Vermont principal has been fired for a Facebook post she made in June that was critical of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a 50-page decision from the Mount Ascutney School Board, released Friday, members concluded that principal Tiffany Riley’s actions were “inconsistent with the expectations for a principal.”
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The June 10 post from Riley read, in part, “I firmly believe that Black Lives Matter, but I DO NOT agree with the coercive measures taken to get to [sic] this point across; some of which are falsified in an attempt to prove a point. While I want to get behind BLM, I do not think people should be made to feel they have to choose black race over human race.”
According to the decision, the Riley initially refused to delete the post despite being instructed to do so by Superintendent David Baker. It also states that public comments, emails and text messages began “pouring in” to school district officials in the day after the post was published.
Riley would ultimately delete the post before making a second post on the subject the next day, which school board members said failed to show culpability or empathy.
“While self-reflecting, researching, learning, and trying to make myself more aware of the struggles of the BLM movement, I recently made a public post that unintentionally offended many people,” a second post read. “I understand the struggles of the Black lives community and stand with them in the fight against racism. Prejudice, discrimination and racism has no place in the world. I love and support my community and will continue to reflect on, learn from, and continue to pursue equity moving forward.”
Riley was placed on paid administrative leave the following day. The board voted unanimously to terminate Riley on July 27, pending an evidentiary hearing.
The board’s decision prompted a small group to gather in Windsor and call for her reinstatement, also demanding an apology from the board.
The Facebook account Riley used to make the posts has since been deleted.
