The Detroit school district has fired a principal accused of making sexually explicit remarks, following a school system investigation.
The principal at Marion Law Academy was said to have discussed topics such as vampire sex in the presence of staff and parents. He is also accused of using profanity in front of staff and students at the school, which enrolled 425 students in grades K-8 last year.
During the course of the investigation, the principal denied making sexual jokes, and said his vampire comments were taken wholly out of context. He admitted, however, to some use of profanity.
Officials found him to have violated school policies regarding ethical conduct and professionalism and acting in a manner that “might endanger the safety or lives of others,” per the district’s findings. He was terminated during a school board meeting Tuesday night.
His termination was among several the board approved unanimously, without public comment. The board for the Detroit Public Schools Community District discussed personnel terminations during a closed session with Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
The district’s investigation alleges that the principal talked about his personal sexual history and made sexual jokes in the school’s parent resource room in front of staff members and parents. At one point, he also talked about vampire sex and how women should please men, a witness said in a statement. The report’s findings also note that at least part of this discussion was captured on video.
The principal said he did not make jokes that were sexual in nature, and denied making the comment about how women should please men.
He argued that he mentioned vampire sex while talking about his girlfriend catching her daughter watching a cartoon titled “Vampire Sex.” He said it was during a discussion with staff about the impact of trauma, and he was explaining how television shows and video games could traumatize students.
The principal also received a written reprimand from the district last summer for failing to submit a semester observations report on time.
The principal did not respond to a request for comment on this story.