PGCPS Teacher Investigated For TikTok Videos Where Students Unbraid His Hair, Paint Nails

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A Prince George's teacher has been reassigned out of his classroom after school officials were tipped off to his viral TikTok showing students unbraiding his hair and painting his nails in class.

In a statement shared with WTOP, Prince George’s County Public Schools said it has reassigned teacher Marquise White pending the outcome of an investigation. On May 5, White posted a video to the social media app, claiming he did a livestream with “four or five of my over 100 best friends” assisting in taking his hair out in preparation for a hair appointment. Some commented during the stream that his behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional, according to the posts on the TikTok thread. White responded saying that it is “literally just hair.”

“To me, this is just another wholesome moment that I’m having with my kids and I was fortunate enough to catch them on film,” he said in response.

On May 6, White posted another video showing a student painting his nails. He claimed that the student, who has the goal of being a nail technician, performed the task after his students were done taking a state standardized test, WTOP reported.

White’s TikTok account has accrued more than 770,000 followers, but the two videos at the heart of the investigation alone have a combined 9 million-plus views.

According to the school’s employee code of conduct, teachers are asked to respect a student’s “personal boundaries by maintaining proper space and demonstrate appropriate behaviors” that create a safe learning environment for all students. Employees are also asked not to record student faces and voices unless teaching in a performing arts or career technology class, WTOP reported.

Read more at WTOP