With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Long Beach Poly Teacher Placed On Leave Amid Allegation She Used ‘N-Word’
The entrance to the Long Beach Polytechnic campus (Megan Garvey / LAist)
()
Long Beach Unified School District officials have placed a teacher on paid administrative leave for a second time in recent weeks after multiple students went public with allegations that she used the "N-word" against a black student.
Here's what we know so far:
- Libby Huff, who’s taught for 11 years at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, was first placed on administrative leave on Jan. 13 following a complaint, school district spokesman Chris Eftychiou said in a statement to KPCC/LAist.
- After the district investigated that complaint, Huff returned to school on Feb. 12.
- Then, on Feb. 13, a group of Poly High students published a post on Medium outlining a list of claims against Huff, including the “N-word” allegation.
The students’ post also alleged that Huff, who teaches students enrolled in the school's Pacific Rim Business Academy, had thrown objects at students, physically grabbed them and duct-taped them to desks.
The day after the students’ post went live on Medium, Eftychiou said the district “placed [Huff] on paid administrative leave again pending our investigation into newly received complaints.”
Support for LAist comes from
It’s unclear whether the students filed a formal complaint in addition to their online post. Eftychiou’s statement said Long Beach Unified “is not at liberty to provide details of such investigations, but we consider the safety and wellbeing of our students to be our top priority.”
KPCC/LAist will have more on this story.
GO DEEPER:
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist