Norristown Area School District Investigating Racist Online Posts

NORRISTOWN, PA — School officials are investigating after a social media account under the name of a Norristown Area School District teacher shared hateful racist comments, the district said.

The district did not elaborate on what the comments were and did not identify the teacher under investigation. They became aware of the comments Wednesday and issued their statement Thursday.

"We are grateful to the public for alerting members of the district administration regarding these deplorable comments," Superintendent Christopher T. Dormer wrote in a letter to the school community. "We treasure and celebrate the diversity of our school district."

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Police investigated a similar instance of racist and violent social media comments made by an individual under the profile of an Abington Hospital employee. In the posts, the account holder wrote that they had herpes and spit in the faces of black patients while they were unconscious. The investigation, however, determined that it was a false account created in the name of a real person, in order to sow racial divide and hate.

"It is most likely that an account was fraudulently created with ill intent, in order to perpetrate that these hateful messages were written by her," Abington police wrote, noting that they are continuing to investigate to discover whoever is actually behind the posts.

Dormer said that the Norristown School District would not stand for any form of racism.

"I want to assure our African-American students in particular that we see you and that we hear you," Dormer's letter continues. "Black Lives Matter, and we will not tolerate this behavior."

The messages come at a time when tensions are high amid ongoing unrest, both locally and nationwide, following the death of George Floyd. Peaceful protests have taken place throughout the region, including in Norristown on Thursday, where demonstrators marched to condemn Montgomery Couty Commissioner Joe Gale's recent statements about Black Lives Matter.

More details on the situation in the Norristown Area School District will be provided as they become available.