The board of the San Dieguito Union High School District in Southern California placed Superintendent Cheryl James-Ward on administrative leave early Thursday morning, reports the Coast News.
Parents earlier had called for her resignation, upset that comments she made last week played on the Asian model minority stereotype.
“You are disconnected, you have very little knowledge about your community,” said one parent Wednesday night during the public comment period of the board meeting, reported KUSA.
As AsAmNews reported last week, Ward’s comments depicted Asian parents as wealthy as she tried to explain the aggregate academic success of their children.
“So here in San Dieguito we have an influx of Asians from China, the people who are able to make that are wealthy, you cannot come to America and buy a house for 2 million dollars unless you have money, school chief Cheryl James-Ward said.
Coast News reported that the district received hundreds of emails in protest of the superintendent’s remarks, with 70 people commenting at Wednesday’s board meeting.
“I work two full-time jobs. I work 80 hours per week to support my kids. I earn the money while everyone is still sleeping at 4 o’clock. Your comments hurt me, hurt my family and discredited my kids,” said one parent.
The board voted 3-1 to place her on leave.
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