Woodbury substitute teacher banned after reenacting George Floyd murder, making sexist jokes

A substitute teacher that reportedly reenacted the murder of George Floyd inside a Woodbury classroom on Monday has been banned from teaching in the district according to a letter sent to families by Woodbury High School Principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner.

Sorenson-Wagner said that students reported the teacher told them he thought they wanted to hear about his life as a police officer. The teacher is not a police officer in Minnesota.

Students reported the following incidents happened in front of four classes:

- Put a student on the ground in front of the class as part of a reenactment of the police actions that resulted in the murder of George Floyd.

- Twisted a student’s arm behind the student’s back and showed pressure points on the chin and face.

- Spoke about a bar fight and fake punched a student with his fist “really close” to the student’s face.

- “Invaded students' space” and mimicked holding up a gun and pointing it at students.

- Repeatedly made racially-harmful comments.

- Told sexist jokes.

- Spoke in disturbing detail about dead bodies he had seen, and shared explicit details about two sexual assault cases he investigated.

- Shared specific names of people he arrested.

- Stated that “cops would be the best criminals” and that “they know how to get away with stuff,” stating that he once got an “A” on a paper about how to get away with murder.

- Spoke at length about his gun collection.

- Stated that “police brutality isn’t real.”

The school noted that they were sharing the information with families in order for them to have a conversation with their children about what they may have experienced in the class, heard at school, and any other harm a result of what took place.

"I specifically want to acknowledge racial harm that occurred when the substitute teacher reenacted the prone restraint that resulted in the murder of George Floyd," Sorenson-Wagner wrote. "This reported behavior is reprehensible. I am embarrassed, and I am sorry this happened to our students. We will take as much time as students need to listen and create open space for courageous conversations that lead to healing, action and education."

The letter to families said the report had been submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education and PELSB (educator licensing department). The substitute teacher has also been trespassed from stepping foot on any district property and the school is collaborating with the Woodbury Police Department to investigate this incident.

Principal Sorenson-Wagner also wrote, "Next week students will have additional opportunities to meet with school staff to talk through and process the impact of what happened. School staff and administration, our Director of Equity and Inclusion, and district leaders will continue working with student leaders and community partners about next steps for repairing the harm done to students and staff at Woodbury High School."

Woodbury police are also looking into the incident.