LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teacher Kumar Rashad made an effort to clear his name Thursday, at the end of a months-long investigation that led to his reassignment from the classroom in October.
Rashad, a teacher at Breckinridge High School, had been reassigned to non-instructional duties on Oct. 24 according to a JCPS spokesperson at the time, who would not provide further details.
However, in a news conference on Thursday, Rashad explained the incident, he says, started it all.
"In my particular case, I saw two males attack a female and I went to the female's rescue," Rashad said. "I removed the two males off of that female. The two [male] students said that I removed them too harshly."
A JCPS spokesperson confirmed Rashad is set to return to work Friday, but couldn't confirm his recounting of events.
"We have a legal obligation to investigate any and all allegations," JCPS spokesman Mark Hebert said. "All policies and procedures relating to reassignment were followed."
Watch the full news conference below
Rashad spent his months-long reassignment at the Blue Lick Bus Compound in south Louisville, which he referred to as "teacher jail."
"Yeah, that's what I will compare it to, an educator jail," Rashad said. "It's just a lot of isolation. And you're made to feel like you're guilty until proven innocent."
Rashad isn't alone in criticizing JCPS's current policy. Jefferson County Teachers Association President Brent McKim takes issue with the length of the JCPS investigation.
"We really need a more efficient process," McKim said. "You know, there's that saying 'justice delayed is justice denied' and we need to be able to resolve these quickly because we already have a teacher shortage."
According to the district's Administrator's Guide to Labor Management and Employee Relations, an employee facing disciplinary action can be placed on non-instructional duties pending a decision to reassign them or not.
"I've already lost three solid months," Rashad said. "That time, I will never be able to get back."
Rashad also spoke about the mental toll this process has taken.
"A couple of weeks before, I had been celebrated as the Kentucky Teacher of the Year," he said. "And to go from that, the highest point of my life, to the lowest, is very difficult."
Rashad said the district determined allegations of wrongdoing were unfounded by October. JCPS did not directly respond to requests to clarify a timeline for its investigation.
"I'm doing this for all those who are like me, who were reassigned and not given fair treatment, or reassigned because of frivolous calls," he said. "Who are sitting there, waiting, week-after-week, day-after-day, to get back to serving these kids that we love."
The educator is currently looking to serve as vice president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
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