*A teacher is on administrative leave from Wesley Chapel High School in Pasco County, Fla. while officials investigate allegations he made a racist Donald Trump-related comment toward African-American students at the school.
The incident came to light after a parent, Donnie Jones Jr., wrote about it on Facebook.
Jones Jr. said his daughter was in the hallway with several other students when teacher and golf coach John Sousa asked what they were up to. Jones Jr. said Sousa then made the comment, “Don’t make me call Donald Trump to get you sent back to Africa.”
Jones Jr. said he went to the school immediately to complain. Shortly afterward, Sousa was placed on administrative leave.
“As soon as the school was made aware of the allegations against Mr. Sousa, they called him in and had him leave campus and told him to stay home,” Pasco Co. Schools Spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said, according to the New York Daily News.
Sousa met with the director of employee relations Friday to discuss the matter. As for further discipline of Sousa, “There has been no decision made,” said Cobbe. “There’s some discrepancies in the statements from the students and from him, so they have some discussions to have at that level before making any kind of recommendations for further discipline.”
Jones Jr. his Facebook page Thursday, saying he called Sousa and spoke with him directly about the incident.
Jones Jr. wrote that Sousa told him, “It was just an off the wall comment and wasn’t meant to be racist. He said it was a bunch of male and female students in the hallway and he was talking to everyone.”
Jones’ daughter says Sousa pointed at her and the other black students she was with when he made the comment.
Jones Jr. believes Sousa is sorry for the comment, – but only because he’s in trouble.
See Jones Jr.’s Facebook post below:
Watch a report below:
