December 20th 2024.
Anthony Clark, a teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School, has decided to resign from his position in the special education department. The school board unanimously approved his resignation agreement on Thursday without discussing it in an open session. This comes after Clark, along with two other teachers, were accused of antisemitism by a concerned parent, Nate Mellman.
Mellman had filed a formal complaint against Clark, English teacher Dan Cohen, and special education teacher Wafaa Alwawi with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General's Office last summer. Cohen and Alwawi were the faculty sponsors of OPRF's Middle Eastern and North African group, while Mellman is currently running for a seat on the OPRF school board. The board members and Superintendent Greg Johnson have refrained from commenting on Clark's resignation and the events leading up to it.
When asked about Clark's resignation, OPRF's Executive Director of Communications, Karin Sullivan, simply stated, "We wish him well." She declined to comment on the details of the situation. Mellman, however, remains firm in his stance towards Clark, saying, "Good riddance." He claims that Clark had made anti-semitic remarks on social media, such as stating that most Jews are racist and that they control the media. Mellman also mentioned Clark's false accusation against a Jewish student of dropping a swastika during an assembly. He believes the administration and board have some explaining to do for not publicly condemning these posts.
Despite attempts to reach out to Clark for an interview or comment, he has not responded. A public records request has been filed to obtain a copy of the resignation agreement, but it has not been received yet. Clark, an OPRF graduate, had been teaching at the school for over a decade. His social media posts have been a topic of controversy in the past 14 months, including a post where he wrongly identified the student who had dropped a swastika during a school assembly as Jewish.
Sullivan did not confirm or deny if Clark had faced any disciplinary action before resigning. She stated that she cannot comment on personnel matters. Clark was not only a teacher but also an activist. He ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020, challenging the incumbent Danny Davis in the Democratic primary. Although he did not win, Clark gained popularity and support from both inside and outside the school.
According to an anonymous OPRF teacher, Clark was well-liked and had a strong connection with his students. He had founded the student hip hop club and Comedy Club at the school. In addition, he was also the founder of the Suburban Unity Alliance, which advocates for equity and community engagement. Clark had organized various events, such as a student walkout to protest police violence and a march against racism and discrimination.
As a special education teacher, Clark co-taught history classes at OPRF. His position will now be posted and filled by substitute teachers until a new teacher is hired. Bob Skolnik, a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press, reported on this story.
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