Bellevue West teacher accused of repeating racial slur during argument with student

BELLEVUE, Neb. (WOWT) - Bellevue West High School officials are being called out by parents and students after a teacher is accused of using a racial slur while in an argument with a student.

Jason Cribbs told 6 News he received a call Monday after school from his daughter, a junior at the school, saying she had witnessed her science teacher repeat the slur several times in class and in the hallway.

“A teacher and a student were engaged in a back-and-forth — I don’t know what exactly was said, but I guess the student said the ’n-word,’ and the teacher repeated that ‘n-word’ and continued to repeat it throughout the class,” Cribbs said.

The argument then moved into the hallway, where Cribbs’ daughter said other teachers began closing their doors while the slur was used again in front of other staff.

“I heard that the dean intervened and the teacher was still saying the ‘n-word’ as the dean was present,” Cribbs said.

Following the incident, Cribbs said his daughter’s emotions “were all over the place.”

When asked about the incident, Bellevue Public Schools provided this short statement:

“While this is a personnel matter and the district can not discuss personnel matters — Bellevue Public Schools does not condone the use of racial slurs in any manner or environment from students or staff.”

Cribbs said he spoke with the school principal Tuesday and received an apology. He said the principal told him the teacher’s behavior was “unlike her,” and that the school had handled the matter how they saw fit.

Cribbs says he was told the teacher would be retained and that the school offered to allow his daughter to switch classes.

“I feel like leaving that teacher in that environment — you’re not changing anything,” he said. “This teacher’s still going to be walking the hallways, and the students are still going to be on edge.”

As a Black man, Cribbs said hearing about the incident was hurtful.

“I just had to help my child and let her know, like, that’s the way things are these days. And it’s not healthy, it’s not OK,” he said.

Cribbs said he’s considering having his daughter transfer schools, despite her thriving as a student and athlete at Bellevue West.

“I would hate to go that way, but I’m gonna do what I have to do to protect my children, and that’s part of me being a father; I’m going to protect my children and make sure they’re in a safe environment,” he said.

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