SAUGERTIES – Ninth-grade teacher Hope Antonelli, whose writing assignment triggered a firestorm of criticism, has been reassigned for the time being, Saugerties Superintendent of Schools Kirk Reinhardt announced on Thursday.
The teacher had given an assignment and used as an example that George Floyd, who was murdered by former Police Officer Chauvin, had not died by having the convicted killer’s knee on the victim’s neck, but rather because of health reasons.
As a result of the backlash by upset students, Reinhardt said the district “is investigating allegations of an inappropriate journaling assignment at the high school level.”
He said the teacher “has been reassigned pending the outcome of that investigation.”
Reinhardt said the district “takes allegations of this nature very seriously and wishes to emphasize that there are existing procedures under its Dignity for All Students Act policy to make complaints or to bring to the district’s attention, any issues of this nature.”
