Niles West Teacher Dismissed Following District Investigation: Report

NILES, IL — A Niles West High School teacher in Skokie has been dismissed after Niles Township High School District 219 investigated comments he made to a student on May 11, according to a report from the Pioneer Press.

According to records obtained by the Pioneer Press, Nathan Gray, an English teacher who had worked at Niles West for more than 25 years, was dismissed after a district investigation.

The investigation found that Gray, who is white, encouraged a Black student to change the topic of a persuasive essay assignment to “the N-word.” The district’s “notice of recommendation for dismissal” letter states that administrators reached their decision following a “thorough review of the facts and evidence.”

The dismissal notice states that Gray’s conduct in talking with the student on May 11 violated multiple board policies governing professional conduct.

District records also show Gray had previously received a warning letter in 2021.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune: Niles Township D219 Board dismisses teacher for comments deemed inappropriate