Oakville school principal faces disciplinary hearing for alleged racist incidents
An Oakville principal is slated to appear before a disciplinary hearing related to racist incidents that are alleged to have occurred between 2016 and 2020.
The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committee will hear of professional misconduct allegations against Julie Ann Riesberry, currently the principal of St. Michael Elementary School in Oakville, on a yet-to-be-scheduled date.
A notice of hearing posted to the OCT's website lists the allegations against Riesberry. They include instances where it is alleged the then-principal of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School made racist comments and used racially pejorative terms on nine separate occasions to colleagues.
Riesberry did not respond to requests for comment.
Acknowledging it was aware of the allegations against the principal, the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB), declined to comment, citing personnel matters.
Legal counsel for the Catholic Principals Council, a professional association for principals and vice-principals in Ontario's publicly funded Catholic school system, will be handling the Oakville principal's matter before the OCT, according to the council's executive director, Joe Geiser.
The council represents members in a variety of capacities, including offering legal support for matters relating to their responsibilities as school administrators.
We do have what are called support services advisers, individuals who work for us, who also liaise with our principals and vice principals," said Geiser, speaking generally about the council and resources available to members. We would have somebody working with the principal as well as with legal counsel, any of these kinds of matters or any other kinds of supports that we can offer."
The Halton Region Black Parent Council, a local advocacy group, said they were not shocked by the allegations made public in the OCT's notice of hearing.
The types of incidents outlined in the Notice of Hearing are clear indicators of the overt and systemic anti-Black racism that continues to thrive at the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)," said the parent council in a statement. While individuals need to be held accountable for their behaviour, even more important is that HCDSB holds itself accountable for their role in allowing a culture of racism to exist so openly in their schools and under their care."
The HCDSB said in a statement it acknowledges the problem of anti-Black racism and has taken a multipronged approach that includes professional development, policy review, data collection, inclusive curriculum and establishing mechanisms to respond to incidents of racism and discrimination when they occur.