Former and current students raise concerns about faculty at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Several former and current students of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts attended a DCPS board meeting on Monday night to raise concerns they have had with the school’s faculty in the past.
This comes after three teachers were removed from the classroom in recent months, including one teacher who was arrested last month for lewd conduct with a student.
Two other teachers were reportedly reassigned out of the classroom with no student contact.
The board meeting was attended by many concerned people who spoke in solidarity and asked for transparency and accountability from the school.
Shyla Jenkins, a former student, raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the toxic culture at the school.
“We’re tired of the lack of transparency, we’re tired of the toxic culture that is being considered art to suffer for and suffer through,” said Jenkins.
The former long-time vocal department chair, Jeffrey Clayton, was arrested on felony charges of an authority figure soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a student and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
DCPS has since opened up a more comprehensive investigation after hearing other allegations and reports.
Jenkins claimed that this is a bigger issue and that former students have complained over the years, but nothing was done about it.
“Former students have complained over the years, parents have written letters over the decades, bringing it to former and current administrators’ attention, and nothing happened,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins even gave letters from other former students to the general counsel to look at their experiences with Clayton and at the school.
A former Douglas Anderson teacher also spoke to the board and mentioned that about a week after Clayton’s arrest, another Douglas Anderson teacher was reassigned to duties off school grounds and without student contact. DCPS also confirmed that a third teacher was removed, but the details of both cases have not been made public.
The school board and general counsel addressed the ongoing investigation and mentioned that they were concerned about the issue.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the former and current students of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts are asking for more transparency and accountability from the school.
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