JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Department of Education Commissioner, Manny Diaz, said he is concerned about the safety of students at Duval County Public Schools.
Diaz sent a letter to DCPS Interim Superintendent, Dr. Dana Kriznar, Thursday.
He said he wants answers as to why DCPS allowed Douglas Anderson teacher, Christopher Allen-Black, to continue teaching for more than a month after he was arrested on charges of exposing himself at a Disney World Hotel.
"I must express my concern about the lack of progress and action regarding the numerous issues affecting the health, safety, and welfare of students in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). It is critical that you prioritize this responsibility," Diaz said in part of his letter.
One of the issues Diaz is referring to is how the district reports allegations of teacher misconduct.
“I think his letter is very telling. We're having the same conversation he had a year ago," Douglas Anderson alumni, Shyla Jenkins, said.
On April 25, 2023, Diaz sent a letter to then DCPS superintendent Dr. Diana Greene.
“Expressing grave concern,” with DCPS' lack of reporting.
Diaz said the district failed to timely report dozens of cases, including previous investigations into former Douglas Anderson teacher, Jeffrey Clayton.
Clayton recently pleaded guilty to sex misconduct with a student.
The office of inspector general investigated DCPS and found it was not promptly reporting cases.
According to the department of education, the findings of the investigation were shared with DCPS February 1, 2024
On February 21, 2024, the district learned Allen-Black, another Douglas Anderson teacher, was arrested.
“This should have been handled quickly. And professionally, Jenkins said.
But Allen-Black remained in the classroom until April 11.
In the letter sent to Kriznar Thursday, Diaz said the handling of Allen-Black “is unacceptable.”
“This is something where we have an internal issue within the district and those who have continually allowed this to happen need to be identified and terminated," Jenkins said.
Jenkins is worried accountability may never come.
“My fear is because the superintendents leaving, the people who need to be held accountable and fired and terminated are never going to be.”
In his letter, Diaz said Kriznar has five days to respond with what steps she will take to ensure the issues are immediately addressed.
First Coast News reached out to DCPS after hours and we are waiting for their response to Thursday's letter.
Dear Interim Superintendent Kriznar:
I must express my concern about the lack of progress and action regarding the numerous issues affecting the health, safety, and welfare of students in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). It is critical that you prioritize this responsibility.
As previously shared with you, in April 2023, DCPS reported a total of seventy-three (73) cases to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practices Services (PPS) because those cases dated back as far as 2020, spanning three different school years, and were not previously reported to PPS.
On April 25, 2023, I sent a letter to Superintendent Diana Greene, sharing that it was completely unacceptable that DCPS did not promplty report cases as required by the Florida Statutes. This prompted the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to being investigating DCPS for their delayed reporting in violation of Section 1012.796(1)(d)1., Florida Statutes (F.S.). On January 25, 2024, the OIG released Investigative Report 2023-0003, that substantiated that DCPS failed to report alleged teacher misconduct to PPS as required by section 1012.796, F.S., and Duval County School Board Policy 6.80.
On February 1, 2024, I sent you a letter informing you of the OIG findings and shared that as the Commissioner of Education, my first priority is protecting Florida's students. You indicated, that DCPS was committed to the health, safety and welfare of students; however, on February 24, 2024, you learned that one of your educators, Christopher Allen-Black, was arrested and charged with Exposure of Sexual Organs. Rather than immediately removing Mr. Allen-Black from direct contact with students, you elected to allow him to remain in the classroom until April 11, 2024. This is unacceptable.
It is clear that there is more work that needs to be done in your district. Your failure to address these pressing concerns reflects a lack of prioritization for the well-being of students, parents, and educators who rely on you to ensure a safe and conductive learning environment.
I'm reaching out to express my concern on these issues. I expect a response within five (5) days of receiving this correspondence outlining what steps you will take to ensure that these issues are immediately addressed.