With the current nationwide climate bringing racism into the forefront of all of our homes, it’s time now to hold those in the Ballantyne community, specifically educational leaders accountable for their contributions to the continuous racist acts that devalue the experience black and brown students face at Ardrey Kell High School. So yes, you guessed it, we are talking about principal David Switzer and asking him to resign.

David Switzer is currently and has been the principal at Ardrey Kell High School for the past decade and yet, as he continues to be in a major leadership position at AK, so do the racist tactics. Not only from his most recent news coverage with him calling students of color "Ghetto" to calling people of color “Colored Folk” in a faculty meeting, secretly recorded by a teacher, (in which how would the teacher know when to record if that was the “first” time that type of commentary had occurred?? ) But also for allowing bigoted behavior to be accepted and normalized and we, the families of past and current AK students, will no longer stand for this type of systematic oppression to be accepted any longer. 

The racism that occurs at Ardrey Kell does not happen by “coincidence” but it is perpetuated, purposefully. The most recent event that has taken place on the campus with the school spirit rock being vandalized with hatred is only 1 of many incidents that have been covered by the local news in the past 6 years (All past incidents covered by press are linked below). Now imagine how many instances have occurred that haven’t been covered by the press because students, specifically students of color have been too afraid to speak out due knowing that the Principal, David Switzer, will not hold the offender accountable and will go back to school life as ‘normal’.

For example, with 2016 AK Graduate Parker Hall being proud of spray painting racist bigotry such as “BUILD THE WALL, MAGA” on the school rock and not dealing with any type of consequence on the insensitivity of how that impacts the black and brown students and their school experience from lead faculty, creates an environment where students feel comfortable being outwardly hostile and racist because they know the current system in place will not punish them for their behavior.  

In past events, David Switzer has used his relationships with black students to be used for the exploitation for his own social gain in the press when AK receives pressure on the racism that takes place, specifically the black athletes and black students that participate in student government as a cover up to create a false narrative in the public eye and to hide the lack of accountability he takes for the horrid experiences endured by black and brown students who attend Ardrey Kell HS. The hatred that is perpetuated on AK’s campus is not just the responsibility of the parents of the students who make this environment hostile for others, but also is the responsibility of leadership that is supposed to be an example for students. For every instance AK has been called out for the racism that takes place, it has been followed by David Switzer making a statement that “Racism doesn’t belong here” yet 5-9 months later, a new racist incident occurs on Ardrey Kell’s campus.  

This has been happening on record for the past 6 years and articles will be linked down below for reference and detailed review. Our stories and experiences are and will continue to be ignored and played with as a PR stunt by David Switzer if he continues to be in a position of power at Ardrey Kell High School and we are calling on the change agents of our Ballantyne, Charlotte and CMS Community, specifically CMS superintendent Earnest Winston to hold him accountable immediately. 

And to David Switzer: 

1. What have you done to make sure Black and Brown students feel safe at AK?

 
2. What ACTIVE implementations have you and your team made to ensure accountability and consequences will be taken for students who create a racist and hostile environment for others on campus? 

3. When was the last time you took your focus of off confiscating cell phones in class and focused on confiscating bigoted behavior on the school’s campus? 

4. When will you hire Hispanic and Latinx staff that aren’t custodians and janitors?

5. When will you have more black teachers than black lunch ladies?

6.When will you realize that you’re apart of the problem?

and last but not least.. 

 

When will you resign?

 

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Click these articles below to find more info on the racism that takes place at Ardrey Kell High School: - 

• https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/article243349441.html 
• https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/carolina-principal-racial-remark-meeting-70515699 
• https://www.wbtv.com/2020/01/29/white-ardrey-kell-athlete-sends-black-teammate-message-comparing-her-monkey-principal-says/ 
• https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2016/04/28/political-messages-keep-popping-up-at-cms-high-school/ 
• https://www.wbtv.com/story/36425091/ardrey-kell-students-caught-drunk-on-drugs-and-yelling-racial-slurs-at-football-game/ 
• https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/mother-autistic-child-handcuffed-south-charlotte-h/113498278/?_website=cmg-tv-10030