Principal apologizes to teacher, students

By BRIANNA KWASNIK

STAFF WRITER

Port Charlotte High School Principal Lou Long has apologized for asking a teacher to remove a Black History Month display depicting controversial former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

Following complaints from parents and students, Long ordered full-time substitute math teacher Alissa Perry to remove the display from her door just one day before the month ended. Her emotional reaction was posted to Twitter, and the video was viewed more than 2.4 million times and retweeted by Kaepernick.

Kaepernick angered many but became a hero to others when he took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality.

In an editorial published today in the Sun, Long wrote, “The method I used, upon reflection, was both hurtful and insensitive to the very people I love the most — my staff and students. I missed the opportunity to be inclusive in the decision making process when I neglected to listen to the vantage points of Ms. Perry, her students, and my staff.”

Perry told the Sun Thursday: “I think we all, as a community and as parents, can appreciate and accept the apologies given for the decision making process.”

She added: “For whatever reason, I probably won’t have closure on it.”

Perry said she can’t go back to the moment depicted in the video posted to Twitter, where she was seen taking down her Black History Month display. “It’s almost like a trauma,” she said.

Despite those feelings,

— Alissa Perry, PCHS full-time substitute teacher

LONG