Jacksonville teacher's contract not renewed after using n-word in classroom

A Jacksonville elementary school teacher is out of a job after a district investigation found she used a racial slur in the classroom.

Lisa Weindorf's contract as the music teacher at Dinsmore Elementary School was not renewed.

Duval County Public Schools let her contract expire on Tuesday.

It’s so recent, it’s not part of Weindorf’s 150-page DCPS personnel file Action News Jax got through a public records request. We’ve been working to get the file for more than two months.

“My child did not feel comfortable with her using that type of language around her,” said Dinsmore Elementary mother Maurisha McCants.

McCants is one of the parents who reported to the principal that Weindorf said a racial slur during class back in February.

But the investigative report in Weindorf’s personnel file said the DCPS investigator “received a misconduct reporting form” on April 4, the day after Action News Jax’s story aired.

The investigator found “a preponderance of evidence to support the allegations Ms. Weindorf used poor judgment when she recounted a personal story about racism she experienced as a child and used the ‘N’ word in her narrative.”

Action News Jax counted a total of 17 students in the class who reported they heard Weindorf use that racial slur in class during a Black History Month lesson.

Thirteen students also said Weindorf told them she wanted to adopt a black baby but worried about the stigma.

“The teacher’s contract expired prior to the district taking disciplinary action. Her contract was not renewed,” said DCPS spokesperson Laureen Ricks in an email to Action News Jax.

McCants said she’s glad Weindorf won’t be back next school year.

“It’s a relief,” said McCants.

McCants and another mother tell Action News Jax they haven’t heard from the school about the investigation since the week Action News Jax’s story aired.

McCants said she felt forgotten, as her daughter continued to go to Weindorf’s class every day.

“I feel as if the issue wasn’t as important as I felt, or any other parents felt. Because if it was, I feel like they would have reached out, kept on top of it, letting us know what’s going on,” said McCants.

Action News Jax called, texted, Facebook messaged Weindorf and went to her home to try to get her side of the story.

Weindorf has not responded.

Ricks said the district referred this matter to the Florida Department of Education Professional Practices Commission.

There is no information about such a referral in Weindorf’s personnel file and the Department of Education spokesperson will not confirm whether that referral happened.

Cox Media Group