The teacher, Kimberly Newman, has since resigned from Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Magnet Academy in Palmdale, California. The school district may also be potentially facing a lawsuit.
What We Know:
- Katura Stokes set up a parent-teacher meeting with Newman on Jan. 20 after her sixth-grade son had issues with remote learning. Stokes’ son and Newman completed a few assignments together, and Stokes was relieved to hear her son was caught up with everything. However, at the end of the Zoom call, Newman forgot to end the meeting for all attendees. She left her camera and microphone one. Unconscious of her guests, Newman began to spew racially insensitive comments.
“Two kinds of pieces of s***. They’re black, he’s black,” Newman told her husband in one part of the call.
- Stokes began to record the rest of the meeting as soon as she noticed what Newman was doing. The video exposes Newman writing and sending an email to the boy’s other teachers and administrators. In the email, she was blatantly mocking and belittling Stokes. In another instance, Newman insulted Stokes’ parenting. She asserted that she and several other teachers tried to reach Stokes multiple times to discuss her child’s progress.
“She’s answered her phone for the first time this entire year. I mean these parents, that’s what kind of piece of s— they are,” spouted Newman.
- In her rant, Newman said to her husband that Stokes’ son was lying and making excuses about his technical difficulties. She proceeds to claim that this is what he has been taught to do because “this is what Black people do.”
- Stokes decided to film the computer screen because she thought if she didn’t document it, no one would believe the comments’ disgracefulness. She also called the school’s principal during Newman’s tirade. The principal was just as shocked and phoned her. When Newman answered and was investigated about her remarks, she denied them. Yet, she ended the Zoom session.
- School officials immediately put Newman on administrative leave. When she came in for a meeting two days later, she informed them she wanted to resign and left the office. The Palmdale School District has 45 days to file a normal response to Stokes’ accusations. She is asking for monetary for negligence, defamation, and civil rights violations. After the officials place the response, the parent has six months to file a lawsuit.
- In addition, officials have said Newman’s actions abhorred them. District officials are sticking with Stokes, assuring that the “Palmdale School District has never and will never tolerate any racist behavior or speech.”
- According to the Los Angeles Times, this is not the first time the district has been in hot water. In 2019, the principal of Summerwind Elementary School captured a photo of four teachers smiling while holding a small noose. The investigation concluded that the teachers did not understand the symbolism behind the lasso. The professors were put on paid leave and eventually left the district. The principal also was taken out of her position.
Stokes is also demanding that the school district improves its racial awareness training. This is crucial for Palmdale’s educational system, as enrollment is 75 percent Latino, 15 percent Black and 10 percent white, and other races. Stokes also says she is afraid this incident has scarred her and her son, as they feel they will never be treated fairly in an academic setting.
