ANN ARBOR, MI – Some students from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School are unhappy a teacher is back in the classroom after a student was grabbed by the arm while trying to retrieve an assignment she missed.
Students from the high school’s Black Student Union spoke out during a district board meeting Wednesday, Feb. 19 about the recent return of the teacher, who was put on leave while the district investigated the Dec. 18 incident. They also have been circulating an online petition seeking to remove the teacher from Pioneer, arguing she’s created an unsafe environment for students.
Despite a police investigation that resulted in no charges being authorized by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, students believe the incident was an example of the teacher’s inappropriate handling of a black student in the classroom. Two students were warned by the board to not share the teacher’s name in detailing allegations of her conduct, per the board’s public comment policy. The Ann Arbor News isn’t naming the teacher because she was not charged with a crime and was not identified in public proceedings.
“Students do not feel safe with someone of this character being on staff at Pioneer High School,” student Ariel Yancy said. “The teacher no longer being on staff at Pioneer High School will not fix the racism problems our peers of color experience at this school, but it will show the lack of tolerance AAPS has for racism and the problematic behaviors we constantly are forced to endure.”
Charmelle Kelsey, the mother of the student involved in the incident, said her daughter was grabbed by the teacher while trying to pick up the assignment from her classroom, claiming the teacher wouldn’t allow her to take it because she had missed the class.
Kelsey claims her daughter has been bullied and called out by name in class by the teacher in the past, and was unhappy the incident and her daughter, who suffers from anxiety, have been discussed by in the classroom since the teacher’s return Jan. 30.
“What I want to happen from all of this is for (the teacher) to be held accountable for what she is doing and has done to all of these kids of color at Pioneer,” Kelsey said. “She should be held responsible and not get away with what she is doing.”
Kelsey sought a police investigation of incident involving the teacher and her daughter.
Ann Arbor Police Lt. Shane Dennis said the teacher told the student she couldn’t have the review material, but the student took it anyway, which led to the teacher grabbing her arm while speaking to the student about her attitude, according to the student. Dennis said the teacher denies grabbing the student.
“I can’t speak to (the teacher’s) intent, but it sounds like the student was told ‘no’ when the student grabbed something off of the teacher’s desk,” he said. “The teacher grabbed her to prevent her from taking what she wasn’t supposed to have.”
The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file any charges against the teacher on Jan. 29, said Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steven Hiller.
Hiller said the prosecutor’s office didn’t authorize charges because evidence from the police report was insufficient to prove that the teacher had an intent to injure or embarrass the student.
Despite not resulting in criminal charges, Kelsey believes the teacher has handled students of color like her daughter inappropriately through remarks to other students in the class about her absences, which were due to health and other issues.
In the meantime, her daughter is on her third different math teacher since the incident occurred.
Kelsey pointed to a Jan. 29 email from Principal Tracey Lowder to Pioneer families that addressed the shortage of math instructors during the teacher’s absence as an example of the school placing blame her daughter, though she wasn’t named in the message.
“I appreciate and love our teachers for all that they are doing for our students, despite the criticism they are receiving for it,” Lowder wrote. “They are giving additional time and sacrificing their planning periods to cover classes and provide help wherever they can. It is unfortunate that in light of everything they are doing, some have chosen to be critical of what they perceive we're NOT doing.
“This situation has been tough on all of us, and while terribly inconvenient, it's not tragic. What we have done, and will continue to do, is put our students with the best available instructors in this building.”
The teacher could not be reached for comment. In an email she sent to parents on Jan. 29, the day before her return, she described the frustration she felt being out of the classroom and that “a false accusation” was made against her that was found to be “without merit.”
An article detailing the high school’s shortage of math teachers published by the Pioneer Optimist, the student newspaper, acknowledged the teacher being on leave and the confusion surrounding it. One student was quoted saying the teacher’s return brought relief to students who were “overjoyed” by her being back in the classroom.
Board member Susan Baskett thanked the four student speakers who spoke at the meeting for their bravery, encouraging them and others to come forward if they have any evidence or documentation of misconduct.
“I just want everyone here, and in the community to know, we hear you,” Baskett said. “This is very distressing. We appreciate you bringing it to our attention. The staff, the administration, our employee (Superintendent Jeanice) Swift (have) been working on this. It’s going to take some time and it’s going to take your cooperation.”
When asked if the district was still investigating the incident or the teacher’s conduct, Ann Arbor Public Schools spokesman Andrew Cluley said the district does not comment on personnel matters.
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