Kankakee Teacher Terminated for Racist Email

A special education teacher at Kennedy Middle School in Kankakee, Illinois, has been fired after sending an email containing a racial slur to coworkers. The Kankakee County School District 111 Board of Education voted to terminate Ksenia Matson’s employment during a special meeting held on Wednesday night.

Incident Details and Board Response

The incident originated within a gaming thread among teachers. Board President Christopher Bohlen explained to CBS News Chicago that the email, containing the phrase “the ten little N-words,” was sent during this exchange. Bohlen emphasized that the content was deeply offensive despite the context of the game.

Email Deemed “Inexcusable”

Superintendent Teresa Lance stated that the email was unacceptable regardless of whether it was directly viewed by parents or students. “It was the fact that you felt that it was okay to communicate a message that was so indecent and insulting to our staff members and our students,” Lance said.

Resignation Rejected and Further Action

Matson reportedly offered an apology in a resignation letter, but the school board refused to accept it. Instead, they proceeded with terminating her employment and placing the termination on her record. “And that’s why we did not accept the resignation. This is a serious issue,” Bohlen stated.

Second Incident in Recent Years

This incident marks the second time in recent years that a Kankakee school employee has faced consequences for using a racial slur. In 2023, a high school teacher was terminated after being recorded using the slur in class.

Preventative Measures Implemented

Following both incidents, the district has implemented additional measures to prevent future occurrences. “As a result of this incident, we have actually put in multiple measures to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” Lance confirmed. The board aims to send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.