A former student is accused of entering a Milwaukee high school as a substitute teacher and directing racist and sexually inappropriate remarks at students. The district says staff failed to follow required verification procedures.
THE WORD
- Amy Jones, 23, allegedly posed as a substitute at Rufus King International High School on September 24.
- Students reported racial slurs, sexual comments and being separated by race and gender.
- Milwaukee Public Schools says it is reviewing safeguards and retraining employees.
A Milwaukee woman is facing felony charges after allegedly gaining access to classrooms at her former high school by claiming she was a substitute teacher.
According to CBS 58, court records identify the woman as 23-year-old Amy Jones. She allegedly entered Rufus King International High School on September 24 and told front-office staff she was there to substitute before being placed in an 11th-grade classroom.
Students told investigators Jones yelled at them, made sexually inappropriate comments, used racial slurs and arranged students by race and gender. Some students recorded her behavior. Staff escorted her out before the third class period began, according to the report.
FOX6 reported that Jones faces one felony count of impersonating a public employee and five felony counts of exposing a child to harmful descriptions. At her October 6 court appearance, a commissioner set a $5,000 signature bond and ordered her to avoid contact with the school and students identified in the complaint.
Her attorney told the court she was experiencing a manic episode after a delay in receiving prescribed medication and had voluntarily sought inpatient psychiatric treatment following the incident. Those statements were presented by the defense during bond arguments.
Milwaukee Public Schools said Jones passed through the school’s daily safety screening, but office staff failed to verify her substitute assignment through the district’s Frontline system. The district says its investigation continues, employees will receive additional training and affected students are being offered support.
Be apart of the conversation: What safeguards should schools use to verify substitute teachers before allowing them into classrooms?
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