PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. (WAND) – A Pleasant Plains 7th grade math teacher resigned his position after racist social media posts were brought to light.
Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 Superintendent Matt Runge confirmed that Luke Jason resigned his position after being put on a 10-day suspension. The posts were from 2015 and included the N-word. A more recent post suggested that drivers run over Black Lives Matter protesters who may be blocking the road.
"Wow,” Springfield NAACP President Teresa Haley said. "Disgusting. That is a damn shame in America today that he would say that.’
The Illinois State Board of Education said on Tuesday it could not disclose if the posts by Jason would prompt a licensure review, but did say that under State Code 21 B-75, the posts could be reviewed and suspension or revocation of Jason’s license could be recommended. According to the code, the State Superintendent of Education can issue the suspension or revocation for “unprofessional conduct.”
WAND News attempted to speak to Jason. Investigative Reporter Chris Carter stopped by his Springfield home, but there was no answer. Jason also did not answer his phone or respond to text messages.
Haley worries Jason’s opinions may have tainted the minds of his students and that they could have impacted the way he treated his students.
"Kids are innocent,” she said. “They don't know anything about racism until somebody plants that seed and waters that seed. Even if they're not saying it to those black kids or around those black kids, they may give the lower scores on their grades, they may give them lower grades on their report cards because they have already determined they cannot learn and they don't deserve to be A students."
According to the State Board of Education licensure search, Jason was licensed in 2000 and his current license expires in 2021. Jason is endorsed to teach 5th through 8th grade language arts, math, and social sciences, in addition to kindergarten through 9th grade elementary education.
An ISBE Spokesperson also told WAND News that the state does not support racism by school staff. The board passed a resolution in June saying it condemns racism.
The resolution says ISB “is committed to ensuring public schools in Illinois provide safe and welcoming spaces where all students are able to focus on their education, secure in the knowledge that their safety and emotional well-being will be supported, regardless of race or ethnicity.”
The district has not responded to a request for comment regarding Jason’s post or a request for the district’s social media policy.
"He should have something put up that prevents him from working with kids,” Haley said.
