Maybe She’s Just Observant?
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

Principal fired after backlash over racial remarks influenced by ‘the devil’

This article is more than 9 years old but it still has black people pissed off today!

A high school principal in Georgia has been fired after video of her making a racial remark at the school’s graduation ceremony surfaced online.

After inadvertently dismissing the audience before the valedictorian was due to speak last Friday, causing some students and parents to head for the auditorium’s exit, Nancy Gordeuk said loudly from the podium: “Look who’s leaving – all the black people.”

In a letter to the Gwynnett County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) obtained by the Guardian, Dr Heidi Anderson, the chair of the private school’s board of directors, wrote that the board had voted to remove Gordeuk from her post.

“In light of recent events, the board of directors of TNT Academy has moved to dismiss Nancy Gordeuk as principal. During the coming transition, we will continue to prioritize support for our most recent graduates. Moreover, we will continue our commitment to providing students with the best educational classes, transcription services, and academic credit recovery possible.”

TNT Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement released on Thursday, the state president of the Georgia NAACP applauded the actions of the TNT board of directors.

“Beyond the inappropriate remarks, the former principal attempted to legitimize the bizarre episode by claiming ‘the devil made her do it’,” said Francys Johnson.

“This is not just about Mrs Gordeuk’s comments. The NAACP would defend Mrs Gordeuk’s right as a private citizen to free speech. However, those entrusted with responsibility for our children must set a high standard marked by civility. That is obviously a test the former principal failed.”

Gordeuk, the principal and founder of the school has made several attempts to apologize for her “terrible mistake”, which she said was prompted by the devil.

In an email to parents, Gordeuk reportedly said: “A terrible mistake on my part of the graduation ceremony on Friday night. The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and that forgiveness in [sic] your hearts.”

Georgia authorities had been under pressure to intervene once the comments went viral on social media. Gordeuk reportedly received hate mail and death threats.

TNT Academy is a nontraditional school and is accredited by the Georgia Accreditation Commission. On Thursday morning, the executive director of GAC had only heard of Gordeuk’s alleged firing through media reports and had no comment.

Black Parent seeks to revoke school accreditation because of racial remark

The parent of a graduate of TNT Academy in Lilburn plans to try to have the school’s accreditation revoked because of the director’s racially-charged statements last week.

TNT Academy founder Nancy Gordeuk poses with Donte Lambert before she made controversial remarks at the graduation ceremony.

ATLANTA – The parent of a graduate of TNT Academy in Lilburn plans to try to have the school’s accreditation revoked because of the director’s racially-charged statements last week.

Shakel Forman still feels the sting of the graduation celebration for her son, Donte Lambert that turned ugly, so she is challenging the school’s accreditation by filing a complaint with the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) at the urging of the Gwinnett County NAACP.

During a graduation ceremony last Friday afternoon for TNT Academy, a non-traditional school, Nancy Gordeuk, the founder and director of the school, said, “Look who’s leaving, all the black people!” (WATCH RAW FOOTAGE)

Gordeuk has since owned-up to her mistake saying: “…I deeply apologize for my racist comment…” and asked for forgiveness. (READ HER FULL STATEMENT)

“We’re not here to shut her down, we’re simply here to fact find, bring some understanding and resolve to the matter,” said Michael Woodward, Chairman of the Gwinnett County NAACP Education Committee.

Woodward said he made that point clear to TNT Academy Director and Founder, Nancy Gordeuk, in a conversation with her this week.

His frustration over her failure to agree to meet with him face-to-face and discuss what occurred at the graduation is what led him to encourage Forman to file a complaint.

But, a small group of non-parents who rallied in front of the school this morning, and parents of graduate, such as Forman, are still upset

“We’re originally from Detroit, we had 12 people drive down here to watch him walk and to come here and witness that, it was ridiculous,” said Forman.

While she’d like a refund on the $300 graduation fee, she is also filing the complaint.

“We have to really get a complaint going because there has been other issues that I’ve had to deal with her.,” said Forman. “Because to me it’s not a racial issue, it’s the point of her being in education and I feel like should not be doing that because it’s not positive at all.”

As for the grounds for the complaint, Woodward said Gordeuk has violated the accreditation standard that “ensures that all of the schools that they certify are conducting themselves in a professional or ethical manner and we feel that her behavior was not professional nor was it ethical.”