Woodbury, Minnesota: Parents are calling for responsibility after classroom reenactments of the alleged killing of George Floyd

CNN
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Parents in a Minnesota school district are demanding accountability from a now-banned substitute teacher who was accused of “inappropriate and racially harmful behavior,” including reenacting the killing of George Floyd during a high school English class earlier this week.

Wisconsin Police Officer Steven Dwayne Williams – who served as a substitute English teacher at Woodbury High School in Washington County, Minnesota on Monday – is seen in a photo obtained by CNN “applying the prone restraint on a student in the fourth English class . ,” Shawn Hogendorf, communications director for South Washington County Schools, told CNN on Wednesday.

He had “put a student on the ground in front of the classroom as part of a reenactment of the police actions that resulted in the killing of George Floyd,” the school said in a letter to students, families and staff on Tuesday, calling out the “racial harm ” wrought.

CNN has made multiple attempts to reach Williams for comment.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died during his arrest on May 25, 2020, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for nearly nine minutes as Floyd begged for help, saying he couldn’t to breathe. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter at a state trial in 2021 and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. He later pleaded guilty in federal court to depriving Floyd of his civil rights.

Floyd’s killing sparked a wave of protests around the world, along with a series of legislative measures aimed at addressing police brutality and racial bias.

“Police violence is not real,” Williams allegedly told the students, according to the school’s letter sent to parents. He also reportedly told students that “the police would be the best criminals” and that “they know how to get away with things,” adding that he once got an “A” on a paper on how to get away come up with murder, according to the letter.

In a letter Monday to Woodbury High School families, Principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner called the incident “a racially harmful situation” and said the school immediately removed the teacher from the classroom and walked him out of the school after receiving several complaints received from students.

“We continue to investigate the incident, but I want to assure you that the substitute teacher will not be back at Woodbury High School,” the letter said.

Woodbury police are investigating the incident and Williams is banned from entering any district property, according to the high school.

“We are troubled by the preliminary information about what happened,” Woodbury Public Safety Director Jason Posel told CNN on Thursday. “The safety of students, faculty, staff and our community is our top priority. We will investigate this incident as fully as possible, while expressing compassion for the students affected.”

Williams has been reported to the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the school said.

“Schools should be places where students feel safe to learn and grow,” Anna Kurth, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Education, told CNN on Thursday. “MDE is aware of the situation and has been in contact with South Washington County Schools to offer resources to students, families and staff.”

Teachers On Call, the staffing agency that placed Williams at the school, is “deeply concerned about the reported misconduct of a former commissioned employee” and is cooperating with the district and law enforcement authorities in their investigation, according to a statement Thursday.

“We recognize the great public trust placed in us to ensure that our substitute teachers maintain a safe learning environment,” the statement said. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of violent, aggressive or harmful behavior.”

Williams is no longer an employee of the organization, the statement said.

“Substitute teachers undergo a rigorous screening process that fully complies with Minnesota Department of Education standards and includes screenings above and beyond state requirements,” Teachers On Call said. “The substitute teacher involved in the reported misconduct completed all required background screens before being assigned to an assignment.”

The Prescott, Wisconsin, police department, where Williams was employed for two years and worked as a patrol officer, placed him on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, according to a department news release.

The department said Williams was off duty and not serving in an official capacity when the incident occurred in Minnesota.

“The City of Prescott and the Prescott Police Department find the current allegations, if true, against Mr. Williams deeply disturbing and reprehensible, and we do not condone his actions in any way,” the release said.

Jackie Schneider, whose son is a senior at the school, told CNN affiliate WCCO: “I want strict assurances that this person will never teach my children again.”

Students report ‘inappropriate and racially harmful behavior’

In addition to reenacting Floyd’s murder, students reported a slew of other actions the substitute teacher took that day that were “not provoked by anyone.” Students reported that he twisted a student’s arm behind their back, fake punched a student with his fist close to their face and pretended to hold up a gun and point it at students, the letter said.

Williams had also made “racially harmful comments,” made sexist jokes, shared details about dead bodies and sexual assault cases, shared names of people he had arrested and talked extensively about his gun collection, students reported.

“This reported behavior is reprehensible. I am ashamed and sorry that this happened to our students. We will take as much time as students need to listen and create space for courageous conversations that lead to healing, action and education,” school officials said. “The reported actions are not and will not be tolerated at Woodbury High School or South Washington County Schools.”

The school says it is working with Teachers on Call to ensure that Williams is removed from the replacement list and that he is never allowed to fill vacancies in the school district. The agency said Williams passed all background checks before being assigned, CNN affiliate KARE reported.

On Tuesday, school staff met with all English classes that had a substitute teacher on Monday, and students will have additional opportunities to discuss it next week, according to Tuesday’s letter. School and district officials said they are working on “next steps to repair the damage done to students and staff at Woodbury High School.”