People speak before the rally against critical race theory (CRT) being taught at schools in Loudoun County Government Center in Leesburg, Virginia on the 12th of June 2021. Andrew Caballero Reynolds AFP via Getty Images
In June 2020, a Black Texas high school principal wrote a letter to his school about race.
In July 2021, the letter was brought up at a meeting of the school board.
After months of allegations against Whitfield that he had indoctrinated students, James Whitfield resigned Monday.
NBC News reports that a Black principal at a high school has resigned after being suspended in September amid months-long controversy about critical race theory.
KTXA reported that James Whitfield, the principal of Heritage High School in Colleyville announced a delayed resignation as part of a settlement with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District board.
According to KTXA, Whitfield stated that he would be on paid leave through August 15, 2023.
According to The Texas-Tribune, Whitfield wrote a letter to schools in June 2020 amid nationwide racial protests. It stated that systemic racism was "alive" and well.
According to the Tribune, Whitfield was the first Black principal of his high school. The Tribune reported that Whitfield said he hadn't received any negative feedback about the letter until the July 26, 2021 meeting of the school board.
At that July meeting, Stetson Clark, a former school board candidate at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD alleged that Whitfield was teaching and promoting "critical race theory."
Clark stated that Clark was encouraging destruction and disruption in his district.
Critical race theory considers race something that is socially constructed and oppresses peoples of color. It suggests institutions to uphold and maintain inequalities between whites and peoples of color.
NBC News reported Whitfield had been initially fired in September and was given the opportunity to defend himself at a hearing in November.
In September, Whitfield's school district informed NBC News that Whitfield had "proposed the nonrenewal" of Whitfield's contract because of "deficits in his performance in principal that have been documented" and that "critical racism theory" was not a factor.
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KTXA reported Whitfield had submitted a resignation, which was accepted Monday by the school board.
Whitfield and the school district made a joint statement to NBC News in which they stated that they had reached an agreement to settle their differences.
"Both Dr. Whitfield and the District strongly believe that they are right. According to NBC News, however, both sides agree that the divisions in the community regarding this matter have impacted the education for District's students." The statement said.
Whitfield stated to NBC News that this was beyond his control.
He told the outlet that he was optimistic that the group could use it to make progress and achieve real meaningful change.
At the time of publication, Insider was not able to reach Whitfield and the school district.
Insider has the original article.
