DUNCANVILLE -- It took the Duncanville School Board of Trustees less than 20 minutes to make the decision to fire teacher Vinita Hegwood for a controversial tweet she sent out a week ago.
The board voted unanimously during a special meeting Friday morning. The English teacher has been out of the classroom since district leaders learned of her controversial Twitter post last weekend.
Hegwood was suspended without pay Monday. Thursday she resigned and sent out a written statement apologizing for the profanity laced tweet, which contained a slur many consider to be racist.
According to state law the board had to meet and determine whether it would accept her resignation or terminate her contract. The board upheld her unpaid suspension and voted to terminate her employment contract with the district.
"The Board of Trustees and I know that we make decisions that are in the best interest of our students," said Superintendent Dr. Alfred Ray. "And we feel like this decision that was made today was in the best interest of our students."
Dr. Ray said the decision to suspend Hegwood was made after meeting with her on Monday. During that meeting he said she had an opportunity to tell her side of the story, but confidentiality laws prevented him from revealing what they discussed.
Hegwood sent this written statement to media outlets Thursday:
"I wish to express my regret regarding the controversy over comments that I made on social media on Friday, November 7. I am deeply sorry for the offensive and unprofessional comments that I made on my personal Twitter account. In making those remarks, I was reacting to a series of threatening and racist attacks against me by strangers who disagreed with my expressed opinions on Ferguson, Missouri. I allowed myself to respond emotionally and impulsively. My reaction in no way reflects the standards to which I have held myself and my students for the last twenty years of teaching. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I regret the embarrassment that it has caused the school district. I believe that it is in the best interests of the district that I resign my position at Duncanville ISD effective immediately."
Hegwood's termination is effective immediately. She can appeal the decision to the state commissioner of education.
