Critical Race Theory Ban Pushes Cobb Schools Counselor To Resign

COBB COUNTY, GA — A counselor for the Cobb County School District resigned from her position recently after the school board voted to ban the teaching of critical race theory and The New York Times' 1619 Project curriculum.

Mableton Elementary School counselor Jennifer Susko, who worked for the school for six years, said in her resignation letter that she was also leaving because of the "district's longstanding mistreatment of Black families who have been ignored while demanding solutions to the ongoing racism in your school system for many years," according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A spokesperson for CCSD told The AJC they received her resignation letter Monday.

“As is the case with all contracted employees, human resources is completing the formal process and she is expected to continue her job responsibilities until a highly qualified replacement can be hired,” the district said in a statement to The AJC. “Cobb teachers are back in classrooms this week and we are focused on teaching and learning as students return on Aug. 2.”

• Related: Critical Race Theory Banned In Cobb County Schools

The Cobb Schools board voted June 10 — along party lines — to ban critical race theory teachings. A week earlier, the Georgia Board of Education also voted to do the same. Susko told The AJC she often talks about racism, anti-racist teaching, diversity and equity with her students — and feared continuing to do so would go against the district's rules.

“That’s how I would have spent my year — either defending myself or compromising my entire approach and obligations as a school counselor by not addressing my kids needs, and I couldn’t do either one of those things,” she said.

Read more from The AJC here.