Kristine Geiss, a parent of a seventh-grader in the Smithtown Central School District, brought forward allegations of inappropriate classroom behavior toward her daughter by an Accompsett Middle School Teacher during the board meeting on May 10. While we have ascertained the name of the teacher, we are declining to publish that information.
According to this parent, the student was given a project whereby they had to pick an “important person” on which to present. The student decided to pick former President Donald Trump.
The parent stated that the teacher was rolling her eyes and that other students had taken notice of the incident. The teacher made comments voicing her displeasure with the presentation, going so far as to say her grade would be impacted.
What concerned Geiss further was that two other parents heard from their children about her child’s treatment.
Furthermore, Geiss alleges that the teacher claimed her child was “targeting different groups and was being discriminatory.” Geiss, who saw the project, does not find this to be an accurate assessment.
Her student was not allowed to pass out the stickers she made to the class as other students who chose presidents were able to do.
The parent also expressed frustration with the way the administration of the school handled the incident.
“I feel my daughter was completely mocked and humiliated in front of the class and was not graded on her merit at all,” said Geiss at Tuesday’s meeting.
The Principal of Accompsett Middle School could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
