(NASHVILLE) – The Superintendent of Brown County Schools dismissed a coach and substitute teacher on Friday, recommending his termination after he posted a photo of himself in blackface online.
The photo, posted on Richard Gist’s Facebook page, was brought to Superintendent Dr. Laura Hammack’s attention by a concerned community member.
Gist has been employed as an assistant track and football coach at the high school since February 2018. He was also a substitute teacher in all Brown County Schools, employed by third-party vendor Kelly Services. Hammack said she had barred Gist from substitute teaching in the district pending his termination. Gist said that he believed the photo had been taken out of context and that he was in costume with friends.
Gist also volunteer coaches little league in Brown County. The Brown County School Board will decide whether or not to terminate Gist at its next meeting in early February.
