A Merrillville Intermediate School teacher has been suspended with pay pending an investigation after telling students, “You all are acting like monkeys in a zoo,” according to Merrillville Community School Corporation Superintendent Dexter Suggs.
The remark, which parents say was directed at a fifth-grade class on Feb. 24, sparked outrage at Tuesday’s Merrillville School Board meeting and prompted the Gary branch of the NAACP to open its own investigation into the incident.
One parent, Maceo Rainey, criticized the board’s perceived inaction, remarking that “taxation without representation is tyranny” and warning that voters would not stay silent while officials become “tone-deaf” to the educational plight of our children.
“We take matters like this extremely seriously,” Suggs said Wednesday.
The teacher, whose name has not been released, works at Merrillville Intermediate School, 1400 W. 61st Ave., which serves fifth- and sixth-grade students. Suggs said students reported the comment to the principal immediately after it happened, and parents of children in the class were notified.
Still, the district has faced criticism from parents and NAACP leaders who said the teacher should have been removed from the classroom sooner and that school leaders did not move quickly enough to meet with families.
Stephen Mays, president of the Gary branch of the NAACP, said parents contacted the civil rights organization after they were unable to get the response they wanted from school officials.
“Any allegation of racial harassment in an educational setting is deeply concerning,” Mays said. “We are committed to gathering accurate information, advocating for accountability, and ensuring that our young people learn in environments free from discrimination.”
“Our goal is not only to address this incident but also to promote broader equity and understanding in our schools,” added Mays. “Every child deserves to feel valued and protected.”
“We understand that NAACP members were concerned about why the staff member was not immediately removed,” Suggs said. “But personnel decisions must follow our guidelines and contractual language and due process.”
Suggs said the teacher admitted to making the comment and acknowledged it was wrong, but said he did not intend for it to be interpreted as racial.
“He said he was frustrated with the students’ behavior, and he did apologize, unprompted by administrators,” Suggs said.
Suggs said the district’s investigation is moving forward “with a sense of urgency” and he expects it to be completed by Friday.
Mays also criticized district leadership for allowing the teacher to return to the classroom after the remark and for failing to meet quickly with upset parents.
“You let your kids go back to the classroom for that kind of abuse, and so people are outraged,” Mays told board members. “Do your job so we can tamp this down and lower the temperature. To not talk to them is insulting.”
Several board members apologized to parents during the meeting.
Board member DeLena Thomas said she wants the matter resolved in a way that addresses families’ concerns and reflects the racial tensions students are already navigating outside school.
“It’s not something we take lightly,” Thomas said. “We’re preparing our kids for a world that is racially tense right now.”
Board President Judy C. Dunlap, a former principal at Gary’s Wirt and West Side high schools, also apologized while emphasizing the board’s position on the teacher’s comments.
“I do know you will get some answers,” Dunlap said. “And we do not condone this type of behavior.”
