The news that an Ohio high school teacher was allowed to keep her job despite making racist remarks about a Black principal, bullying a coworker during a board meeting, and being caught on surveillance video pulling her pants down has sparked outrage among parents and community members.
Sycamore Community Schools in southwestern Ohio suspended one of its teachers, Danielle Scrase, for 15 days after investigating a complaint about strange and discriminatory behavior she displayed at a school board meeting in September 2024, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Two witnesses reported hearing Scrase, 54, make racist remarks about Sycamore High School Principal Taylor Porter, who oversees the school where she works.
While Porter was taking photos with members of the Black Student Union after delivering a presentation to board members about a networking event they attended featuring historically Black colleges and universities, Scrase reportedly said, “Oh look, an incompetent Black man taking a photo,” and “Incompetent Black man should not be in the picture.”
During the meeting, Scrase texted a colleague, “You know your a joke, Rite?” And you are lucky to have a job that pays.”
Furthermore, WCPO obtained surveillance video that showed Scrase pulling her pants down twice while on her way to the bathroom. According to records, she exposed her “bare buttocks while walking towards the restroom.”
The district initially suspended Scrase from her job for 45 days without pay, but she appealed the decision.
In a letter to district officials, she stated that the complaint about her conduct “contains inaccuracies, omits information, takes events out of context, and totally disregards my testimony.”
Scrase admitted to calling Porter “incompetent” but said it was a “description” and denied that her comments were motivated by race.
“It was spoken quietly to myself and was not within earshot of any family members in the audience because their chairs were several feet away from where I was sitting,” Scrase wrote in her appeal.
“Some background,” she added, “I grew up in an Italian family where talking aloud to oneself is part of our culture.”
The district had previously determined that Scrase “needlessly invoked Mr. Porter’s race for no apparent purpose other than to suggest it is linked to his alleged incompetence,” adding that such a statement could “play into the pernicious stereotype that Black people, and particularly Black leaders, are incompetent because they are Black.”
Witnesses also reported that Scrase smelled like alcohol during the meeting and wondered if that was the source of her strange behavior.
“It appeared that she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” a parent told the district. “She was slurring her speech, jumped into a photo with my child, even though she’s not involved with my student’s group, and even attempted to kiss our students’ advisor.”
In response to those allegations, Scrase provided a doctor’s note revealing her prescription for muscle relaxants and stated that she “unknowingly consumed a mixed drink,” which may have contributed to feelings of intoxication. She later admitted to drinking bourbon prior to the meeting.
Scarse also never denied the allegations of indecent exposure, claiming she went to a different area of the building for the board meeting and that no one else was present when she pulled her pants down.
After Sycamore Schools Superintendent Chad Lewis ordered Scrase’s suspension, she filed a grievance against him, claiming he has a history of retaliatory behavior toward her.
The school board reached an agreement: Scrase would drop her complaint against Lewis if she promised not to bring it up again. She must also attend counseling sessions and have an independent medical evaluation conducted by a medical professional with substance use training.
In exchange, the district would reduce her 45-day suspension to 15 days and clear her personnel records of any complaints about her inappropriate behavior.
She returned to work on January 23.
At a March 4 school board meeting, several parents and community members questioned why Scarse was even allowed to keep her job, expressing frustration with the district’s decision to reinstate her.
“How many of you would still have your job if you walked into your place of work drunk, exposed yourself, bullied a female co-worker via text message, and made a racially charged comment?” Parent Brad Comerford stated that he would take this matter to the NAACP.
“If my kids are not included and protected, we will go somewhere else,” Ronnie Hill said.
“We specifically chose this district because it had a very diverse population,” Emmanuel Black explained. “I would hope that the board would reconsider and look at the content of the character of this teacher.”
In response to the backlash, Sycamore Schools stated that they “understand the importance of addressing these matters with transparency and accountability.”
“We want to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a school environment where every student and staff member is treated with dignity and feels respected, valued, and supported,” the press release said. To that end, our district strictly prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or any other legally protected classification.”
Scrase has been with the Sycamore school system since 1999 and is the president of the Sycamore Education Association, a position she was appointed to in 2017.
