A substitute teacher working at Centennial High School in Las Vegas has been terminated from her position after a video capturing her using a highly charged racial slur during a classroom discussion went viral on social media platforms. The incident, which has sparked significant controversy and debate, occurred last week and was widely shared on TikTok, drawing attention to inappropriate conduct within an educational setting.
Shocking Classroom Exchange Captured on Video
The now-viral footage shows the white substitute educator, who has not been publicly identified, addressing a sophomore class that was described as rambunctious. In the video, she poses a provocative question to her students regarding the use of the n-word, a deeply offensive racial epithet with a painful historical context.
"I want to know why, when black people are amongst each other, they call each other n****?" the teacher is heard asking in the recording. She then continued her line of questioning by stating, "When a white person says it, it’s like 'oh my God.' It’s like an act of something, what is that?"
Immediate Student Reactions and Aftermath
The teacher's use of the racial slur caused an immediate and visceral reaction within the classroom. Students were captured on video erupting in shock, with one pupil visibly walking away with his hands raised in the air. Others gasped audibly and began laughing in apparent disbelief and discomfort. The teacher responded to their reactions with a single word: "Exactly."
The class continued to display signs of confusion and shock throughout the exchange, with some students laughing at the teacher's comments while others appeared completely dumbfounded by the inappropriate nature of the discussion.
Swift Administrative Response and Termination
School administration moved quickly to address the situation. Principal Keith Wipperman sent an email to parents and students confirming that the substitute teacher was no longer employed by the Clark County School District. In his communication, Wipperman described the viral exchange as stemming from a class discussion "with racial implications" that was "not conducive to the classroom environment."
The principal emphasized that the school's top priority remains providing a safe, learning environment for all students, making clear that such conduct would not be tolerated within the educational community.
School Demographics and Context
Centennial High School serves a diverse population of approximately 3,000 students. According to demographic data from US News and World Report, more than a third of students identify as Hispanic, 31 percent as white, and 19 percent as black. This diversity makes the incident particularly concerning within the context of fostering an inclusive educational environment.
While the teacher has not been officially identified, several comments on social media recognized her as a longtime substitute for the school. Some students indicated they believed she was substituting for a science class at the time of the incident.
Historical Context of Racial Incidents in the District
This is not the first time the Clark County School District has dealt with racial controversies involving substitute teachers. In 2023, a substitute educator wrote a racial slur on a whiteboard during class, as reported by the Associated Press at the time.
More recently in 2024, another substitute teacher with the district, Re’Kwon Smith, was fired from Valley High School after video footage circulated showing a physical altercation between him and a student. Authorities indicated that incident began when a student used a racial slur, which escalated into a violent confrontation. Smith later pleaded no contest to a battery charge and was ordered to pay a fine.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Centennial High School for additional comment on the latest incident, but no further statements have been released at this time. The situation continues to highlight ongoing challenges in maintaining appropriate professional conduct and racial sensitivity within educational settings across the district.
