Florida Principal Placed on Administrative Leave After Singling Out Black Students with Low Test Scores | Video

August 28, 2023

*After singling out Black students for low test scores, Bunnell Elementary principal Donelle Evensen is now on administrative leave.

We reported previously that Flagler County parents of Black fourth and fifth graders at Bunnell Elementary in Florida are upset because their children were singled out for underperforming on standardized tests. As WESH 2 News reports, parents weren’t notified in advance about a recent assembly limited to Black students, regardless of their scores.

“Two races were divided. White and Black,” said a Bunnell Elementary School parent who did not want to be identified, per the news outlet.

“You left the white children to continue their education, and the Black children had to go out to be talked about the consequences of not being successful,” she said.

Florida school principal Donelle Evensen called out for assembly threatening high-achieving black student with jail if they do not improve their test scores https://t.co/qwINSbHM1w pic.twitter.com/6ziSlqJZq0

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 24, 2023

According to WESH 2, the students were given a PowerPoint presentation with one page noting the specific problem: “(African Americans) have underperformed on standardized assessment for the last three years… Only 32% are at Level 3 or higher.”

The anonymous parent said her daughter in fifth grade told her, “‘They want our grades to be higher, and if we get a higher grade, then we will be rewarded with McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A.’”

Parents told WESH 2 that the staff running the assembly made several alarming comments, such as “If they’re not successful when they are older, they could end up being killed or go to jail.”

Interim superintendent LaShakia Moore released a statement saying the outreach fell short of expectations. The district is also investigating this particular issue.

Per WESH 2, Superintendent Moore said: “I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with Bunnell Elementary Principal Donelle Evensen following an assembly of 4th and 5th-grade students. We have been able to talk about what led to this assembly and steps that were or were not taken before or after it.

According to The Jasmine Brand, during a subsequent interview, Moore reportedly revealed that Evensen and another teacher involved with the controversial assembly were placed on paid leave amid the school’s investigation into the incident.