HOUSTON – Houston ISD has unanimously approved the resignation of teacher Angela Box, effective Thursday, according to officials.
Box was a third-grade teacher at Ray K. Daily Elementary School. She also serves as a panelist on the conservative Internet show "Tommy's Garage."
Community activist Quanell X accused Box of making racist and offensive comments aimed at practicing Muslims on that show. He has also questioned whether her views were influencing her students.
Box denied making any comments that were intentionally hateful.
"No, not on our show, not on my Facebook; nowhere. It has not occurred," said Box. "I have no problems with any of my parents or any of my students. I love them."
For the past few weeks, Box has kept her position as a teacher in Houston ISD, but turned in her letter of resignation Thursday morning.
Representatives from The Council on American-Islamic Relations attended the meeting.
"Her demeanor on the show is very inappropriate for someone who is a third grade teacher," said CAIR Executive Director Mustafaa Caroll. "We've had several cases within the last couple of years where teachers are actually the bullies of Muslim kids in school and that really disturbs us so even though she didn't do that, it was pretty close to telling us what type of person she was."
District administrators recommended accepting Box's offer of resignation after determining it was in the best interest of the school and its students. Box will receive the equivalent of three months' pay.
"I think that the message that it sends is that there are consequences. That you won't necessarily be able to remain in an educator position if you do the sorts of things that she did on her public access TV show," said Ruth Nasrullah, communications coordinator.
Angela Box issued the following statement:
"I will deeply miss my students at Ray K. Daily Elementary School. These early years of growth and learning are a magical time, and I will always treasure the moments I had with each of them. Unfortunately, the character assassination I suffered at the hands of Quannel X, the New Black Panther Party, The New Black Muslims, and others ruined any chance of continuing this journey with my students. His false statements and threats of violence made the situation at my school simply impossible for everyone.
As I have said before, opposing President Obama and sounding the alarm about radical Islam does not make me a racist. I did not make the statements containing the racial epithets Mr. X attributed to me, as he has since admitted. However, the damage to me has been done.
I am considering all my legal options regarding the conduct from Mr. X and others. I expect to have an announcement as early as next Monday regarding my future steps."
