Substitute teacher removed from Chesterfield school premises

Jason Jennings, a candidate for state office, found himself in hot water after his actions as a substitute teacher at Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Mo. On Friday, Jennings was escorted off school grounds after he tore down Black Lives Matter and Pride signs in a classroom.

In a statement to 5 On Your Side, Jennings defended his actions, stating, “I decided to take those down and tear them up.” He further expressed his belief that such organizations should not be promoted in front of students, referring to Black Lives Matter as a hate group.

However, the teacher whose signs were torn down fired back on social media, stating, “Those were my signs. How dare you? You will not sub in my room again.” Additionally, Jordan Braxton from Pride St. Louis emphasized the importance of creating a safe space for students to be themselves in the classroom.

Kelly Education, the company that hires substitutes for Parkway Central, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the incident and confirming that the substitute teacher had been suspended pending an investigation.

Furthermore, Jennings, who is running for state office, was also accused of soliciting votes from students at the school. Parkway Central High School stated that he was relieved from his duties due to “unprofessional behavior.”

In response to the incident, Principal Tim McCarthy sent an email to the school community, addressing the inappropriate conduct and emphasizing the school’s commitment to the safety and well-being of students and staff. The incident has sparked a debate on the boundaries of political expression in educational settings.