Teacher Distributed Puzzle With ‘Deeply Offensive’ Racial Slur: District - Newsweek

A high school teacher in Kentucky has been placed on administrative leave after distributing an assignment that contained a "deeply offensive" racial slur, district officials said.

The Boone County High School teacher, who was not immediately identified, was disciplined Thursday following student complaints to administrators about the inappropriate word-search puzzle, district officials confirmed early Friday.

"We recognize that the distribution of this material is hurtful, disrespectful, and inconsistent with the inclusive and welcoming environment we are committed to providing to every student," Boone County School District officials told Newsweek in a statement. "We wish to be unequivocally clear: There is NO place in our schools for language or actions that demean, intimidate, or marginalize others based on race, identity, background or differences."

District officials did not specify the "deeply offensive" term but said administrators intend to seek maximum disciplinary measures, adding that the teacher had been "immediately" placed on administrative leave.

"We take this incident seriously, and we want to be unequivocal that there is zero tolerance for racial insensitivity, discrimination, or behavior that undermines the dignity and belonging of our students," district officials said.

Administrators praised students for alerting other staff to the puzzle.

"We appreciate the students who have brought this matter forward as part of our efforts to maintain a school environment where every individual is treated with dignity and respect," Principal Stacey Black said in a statement. "I sincerely apologize on behalf of our staff to our entire school community. We will increase our efforts to ensure that this does not happen again. Counselors are joining me in a meeting with all students impacted."

Boone County Schools Superintendent Jeff Hauswald also condemned the assignment, which had been available on Word Search Labs, a website in which users can create and share puzzles, WCPO in Cincinnati reported.

"I am deeply disappointed that one of our teachers failed to meet the curricular requirements and inclusive expectations we set for EVERY employee at all of our schools," Hauswald told Newsweek in a statement.

The assignment listed a racial slur as the first word to find and also contained the pejorative term spelled out inside the body of the puzzle, an unidentified Boone County High School parent told WCPO.

A spokesperson for Boone County Schools said early Friday that the district would not provide further details on the incident.

Some students at the school defended the teacher and insisted that the puzzle had been distributed erroneously.

"When we got shown the word puzzle, we were confused because we were like, they would never print something like that on purpose," senior Stephanie Lopez told WCPO.

Newsweek contacted Word Search Labs for comment. Developer Matt Johnson told WCPO that he believes the puzzle had been altered after being pulled from the site.

"I suspect a student guessed the password for the puzzle [or it didn't have one], and vandalized the content for maximum shock value," Johnson told WCPO.

A second student said that she concurred with Johnson.

"I know they would never intend that in that way," junior Aiyana Pendleton told WCPO.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Dave Siminoff.