Yesterday I posted about Richard Mitchell, the openly gay Chicago-area high school superintendent who in an extraordinary lapse of judgment placed a remixed video of rookie teacher interviews on a school district website. The video was originally created for comedy relief at a private opening day teacher institute.
“The controversial video spliced real answers with fake questions and made first-year teachers appear to be strippers, drug abusers and murderers. It was aired during an opening-day institute for 500 faculty and staff members and posted online for a week,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The video also celebrated the martini as a method of relieving stress.
Mitchell contended that he was being targeted by school board president Evelyn Gleason because he is gay, and enlisted the help of LGBT rights group Lambda Legal. Mitchell’s argument apparently didn’t fly.
Last night Bremer High School district suspended Mitchell with pay pending a dismissal hearing, In addition to discussion of the video, seven school officials presented letters complaining that Mitchell “created a hostile and unprofessional work environment.”
Mitchell made a statement following the board vote: “Based on the resolution just passed, I am no longer the superintendent. I will take my place with the community.”
Guess it’s time for that martini.
Previously
Gay School Superintendent In Trouble for Spoof Video [tr]
