Controversial Oak Park and River Forest High School trainer Anthony Clark has resigned from his place as a particular training trainer on the college.
On Thursday, the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education unanimously accepted a resignation settlement with Clark with out discussing the matter in open session.
Clark was one in all three lecturers accused of anti-Semitism by mum or dad and River Forest resident Nate Mellman, who final summer time filed a proper grievance with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office towards Clark, l English trainer Dan Cohen and particular training trainer Wafaa. Alwawi. Cohen and Alwawi are the school sponsors of OPRF’s Middle Eastern and North African group. Mellman is now operating for a seat on the OPRF college board.
Board members and Superintendent Greg Johnson declined to touch upon what led to the resignation settlement. OPRF Executive Director of Communications Karin Sullivan was terse when requested about Clark’s resignation on Dec. 20.
“We want him effectively,” Sullivan stated when requested what led to Clark’s resignation and the way it took place. “I’m not going to touch upon the small print.”
Mellman’s place towards Clark had not modified.
“Good riddance,” Mellman stated in a textual content message Friday. “He posted on social media that almost all Jews are racist. He stated Jews management the media. And he falsely accused a Jewish scholar of throwing a swastika throughout an meeting. Neither the administration nor the board have publicly condemned such social media posts. They have some explanations to present us.”
Clark didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for an interview or remark. Pioneer Press has filed a public information request to see a replica of the resignation settlement however has not but acquired a replica of the settlement.
Clark, an OPRF graduate, has been instructing at OPRF for greater than a decade. His social media posts, totally on Jew.
Sullivan would neither verify nor deny whether or not Clark confronted disciplinary measures resulting in his resignation.
“I can not touch upon personnel issues,” Sullivan stated.
Clark was each an activist and a trainer. He ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020, difficult longtime incumbent Danny Davis within the Democratic main. In 2018 Clark carried Oak Park and River Forest and acquired 39% of the vote towards Davis in a two-person race. In the 2020 main Clark completed second to Davis in a four-candidate subject receiving practically 26% of the vote. In 2021 Clark ran for a seat on the Oak Park Village board of trustees ending sixth out of six candidates however receiving 4,961 votes.
Clark was fashionable and had a following amongst activists inside and outdoors the OPRF.
“He actually favored her,” stated an OPRF trainer who requested to not be recognized due to the sensitivity of the state of affairs. “He’s a extremely good man. He’s actually charismatic, he is actually good. I believe it has a reference to youngsters.
Clark based the coed hip hop membership and Comedy Club at OPRF. In 2016, Clark based the Suburban Unity Alliance which advocates for fairness and group engagement. Clark helped manage a scholar walkout at OPRF in 2019 to protest police violence and honor Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in 2012. In 2016 Clark organized a march from Oak Park to Forest Park to protest racism and discrimination which media reported drew at the very least 100 contributors.
Clark, a particular training trainer, co-taught historical past classes. His place might be posted and crammed by substitutes till a brand new trainer is employed, Sullivan stated.
Bob Skolnik is a contract reporter for Pioneer Press.
