District investigates after posts show Macon teacher using racial slur

The Bibb County School District is investigating a classroom incident after photos were posted to social media of a teacher appearing to use a racial slur on Thursday, school officials said.

The photo circulating on social media appears to show a Rutland Middle School teacher writing an insensitive slur in large letters on a classroom board, prompting outrage from parents online.

The district shared the following statement with Rutland Middle School families via the Remind app Friday morning, according to district spokesperson Stephanie Hartley.

“The Bibb County School District is aware of a classroom incident in which a Rutland Middle School teacher used racially insensitive language during a lesson. We want to be clear: This language was inappropriate and does not reflect the values of our District or the expectations we hold for our educators. The District’s Human Resources Department is actively investigating the matter and will take appropriate action in line with our policies,” the district said.

“At the center of everything we do are our students—their safety, their well-being, and their success. Our mission is to maximize student achievement and social-emotional well-being by building a sense of community in safe, equitable learning environments. That means creating classrooms where every child feels seen, respected, and valued, regardless of their race, background, or identity.”

The district has not identified the teacher.

Amid the controversy, supplementary videos to the picture have also surfaced online, capturing another Rutland Middle teacher who took offense to the racial remark and began shouting at the female educator.

The recording shows another individual pulling the male teacher back as he addresses the accused educator.

This incident follows the recent termination of a high school teacher in Logansville who also wrote a racial slur on a classroom whiteboard.

Macon parents ‘frustrated’

Several Macon parents are calling for action from the district and termination of the educator.

Tiffany Martinez, whose sixth grade son was in the classroom during the altercation, said she learned about the incident when he came home and told her.

“I was devastated. I was hurt. I’m angry for my child. I was more frustrated because the schools did not notify us about this,” Martinez tearfully told The Telegraph. “My son does not get home until 5 p.m., so I had no way to contact any school official to find out what is going and what actions are being taken.”

Martinez said she doesn’t want her son to attend class with the teacher in the future and he didn’t go to school Friday. She wants the teacher fired.

Martinez said the teacher involved has been involved in past racial disputes, alleging the educator has made prejudiced comments toward her Mexican-American son and others.

Martinez said prior incidents left her son and other students distraught.

Bibb County Schools has not yet responded to questions about whether the teacher involved has faced discipline. When asked about alleged prior incidents, the district said there was no further information to provide.

Several parents have mentioned online that this incident has compelled them to consider pulling their children from the middle school and the public school system.

“My son will not sit in a classroom in front of her ever again,” Martinez said, noting that her son did not attend school Friday. “Until I find out that she is fired, my child will not be going back to Rutland.”

Although she appreciates the district’s statement, Martinez said she still feels uneasy about the teacher potentially getting away with what happened.

“This needs to be brought to light. This is very serious. Some of these children already deal with bullying from their peers or come from unloved homes. So for them to go into school and face an educator who has done this is heartbreaking,” she said.

The district said it encourages all students, staff and families to reach out to their school administration with additional concerns. Counseling services will also be available to provide support to any students and staff as needed.

This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM.