U.D. teacher caught in racially charged video resigns her post
UPPER DARBY >> A Drexel Hill Middle School teacher who made national news in a racially charged video has resigned from the Upper Darby School District. The school board was expected to approve her resignation on Tuesday night.
Schools Superintendent Dan McGarry planned to recommend firing Renee Greeley, who had been employed by the district since 2008.
She was caught on camera on Oct. 10 going on a racially charged rant against a parent. She was apparently accosting the AfricanAmerican parent with racial epithets after the two had a fender bender in the school parking lot. The parent taped the incident and it went viral on social media.
Greeley did not respond to an earlier request for comment.
She was immediately placed on administrative leave without pay. While the parent who was accosted thanked the district for its swift action, McGarry said earlier the district had to field many inquiries from the community and media asking why Greeley was not fired. He said there was a legal process the district has to follow, and the teacher had due process rights.
“I want to make it clear that we do not condone or support the comments or actions of the teacher in question,” McGarry said last week.
In the video that lasts just over 90 seconds Greeley is seen arguing with the parent after a supposed minor accident between their vehicles on the morning of Oct. 10. At different points throughout the video, Greeley, a white woman, allegedly says the parent is on welfare and should “go back to your Section 8 house.”
Later on, she allegedly tells the parent “F—- off, n——-.”
Building and district administrators were made aware of the incident that morning. The district said an informal hearing was had with Greeley that day.
“I do not want this incident to define who we are. Instead, I would like for all of us to use this unfortunate incident as a teaching tool to authentically reflect on the harm caused by such hurtful words and actions,” McGarry said previously. “We should turn our attention on having productive conversations with one another, with our children, and with our neighbors about being inclusive and respectful of one another. We need to discuss what this really means and looks like.
“People are watching how we respond to this. Our diversity is beautiful, and it is a source of pride. It is our strength and should unify us, not divide us.”