Hartland Consolidated Schools in Livingston County fired a teacher who posed a classroom of young children dressed as turkeys in front of an image of a hunter with a gun and then sent the photo to colleagues with a message about which child to “pick off first,” according to a letter sent to parents Monday.
The district waited more than two weeks to alert families about the Nov. 21 incident. In the letter, administrators said they treated the matter as a personnel issue and wanted to complete an internal investigation before releasing details.
According to the district, the teacher displayed an image of a hunter with a rifle on an interactive board behind the children for a Thanksgiving photo. After taking the picture, she texted it to colleagues with the caption, “which one should we pick off first,” a message administrators called a “despicable and thoughtless” attempt at a joke about shooting students.
Staff who received the text immediately notified building administrators, prompting an immediate investigation, according to school officials. The teacher, who was not named, admitted responsibility and said he intended the message as “a joke.”
The district also notified a Livingston County Sheriff’s Office deputy, who initially said the photo and message did not appear to involve criminal activity.
“At this time the incident is closed on our part, and any further actions will be up to law enforcement and the Livingston County Prosecutor’s office,” the letter states.
The letter was sent by the district’s Superintendent Charles Hughes, Director of Early Learning Jessica Pasienza, and Director of Community Education Carol Hayes.
“We are confident that no child was in danger at any time,” district officials wrote to parents.