Spring ISD Principal Apologizes For Insensitive Comments

SPRING, TX — A Spring ISD principal who made disparaging remarks about a special needs student in front of several staff members, took responsibility for her comments.

Shanna Swearingen, principal at Ponderosa Elementary School in Spring, admitted to making an insensitive remark about a special needs student at her campus

The remark was made during a meeting with several staff members on April 17, about a special ed student who is black and has a history of running from class, according to a KPRC report.

During that meeting, Swearingen said: "We won't chase him. We will call the police and tell them he has a gun, so they can come faster."

On Monday, Spring ISD released a statement that said the district was aware of the incident and takes matters like these very seriously.

"While the comment was made in jest, it was inappropriate and should never have been made,” the statement read. "That point has been thoroughly communicated to Ponderosa’s principal who actually self reported the incident to the district — taking full accountability for the inappropriateness of the comment. Ponderosa’s principal has also apologized to her school community. The district will continue to monitor the school climate at Ponderosa to ensure that incidents like this do not occur again."

Swearingen's comment drew mixed reaction, with some parents calling for her termination and others expressing disbelief that those remarks were made by her.

Earlier this week, Swearingen sent a letter home to parents admitting to the remark, and apologizing to parents, students and staff.

"Your children mean the world to me, and I’m heartbroken that my thoughtless remark has caused disruption to the hard work underway here at Ponderosa. Here in our community, we had a hard year with Hurricane Harvey, and the damage it caused to a large part of our neighborhood. I was so proud of the unity seen in this community during the recovery efforts,” Swearingen said in her statement. "Please know that the same commitment and drive that I had to make things right for our children after the storm, I have today as I work to make things right now with both staff and parents. I am truly sorry for the comment I made. It does not in any way reflect the love and care I have for the students of Ponderosa."

Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson, who is African-American, said the remarks were disturbing for him personally, and that the matter was being addressed with Swearingen, and with the whole district.

Watson said while the district does not discuss disciplinary issues involving staff, that the situation was being monitored by him personally, and that changes in training would occur.

"Although we routinely do an annual, online discrimination awareness training here in the district for all staff, this year I’m calling for in-person cultural sensitivity training," Watson said. "As a diverse school district serving a student population that is 46 percent Hispanic and 40 percent African-American, my top priority is ensuring the dignity, respect and safety for all our students."

Image: Spring ISD

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