A student at Gwinnett County’s Radloff Middle School reportedly used racial slurs against a classmate and then hit her with another student’s belt, according to a letter from the school principal to students’ families.

Principal Jennifer Callahan said in the letter the student who used the belt and the student who provided it are facing disciplinary consequences for engaging in “inappropriate and despicable behavior.”

She said the incident occurred just before spring break. Neither she nor the district provided identifying information about the students.

The parents of the student who was reportedly hit raised concerns in an interview with Channel 2 Action News that the teacher should have done more to address the situation immediately. The station reported the district is investigating the teacher. The district was not able to provide further details Tuesday.

Upon learning of the incident, Callahan said administrators immediately took action and the district’s human resources department launched an investigation.

“I want to be clear,” Callahan said, “hitting students and/or directing racial slurs at people will not be tolerated at Radloff Middle. It is a violation of our student disciplinary code, and violators will face serious disciplinary consequences.”

She said the incident doesn’t reflect the school or its students and asked families to not allow “the inexcusable unacceptable behavior of two students to tarnish the reputation and inclusive culture of our school.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Views of the exterior of Druid Hills High School in Atlanta shown on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. In the plan approved by the DeKalb County school board on Monday, everything but the main building, pictured here, will be demolished in favor of a new school building. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

Featured

Jo'wan Bellamy taught in the GNETS program for 17 years and recently transferred to Atlanta’s new behavioral program at Crawford Long Middle School. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com