Black Wisconsin schools chief steps down after hot-mic comment

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A hot mic caught a Black Wisconsin school chief calling his jurisdiction “lily” white and referring to a district principal as a “b****,” leading to his resignation.

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Claude Tiller Jr. stepped down from his position as Green Bay schools chief after a controversial appearance on an Atlanta radio show.

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During a break in the radio program that aired on WAOK, Tiller was heard referring to a district principal as a “witch” and a “b***” on the show’s still-broadcasting webcam, and then asserting the white woman was unfairly targeting a student of colour, the New York Post reported.

Tiller, in Atlanta to recruit more Black staffers to work in the district, said the 72% white town didn’t have enough minority educators.

The public school district is 40% white, 31% Hispanic and 9% Black and 8% Asian.

Tiller said that 90% of his teachers were white.

“Because I have good teachers that strive to learn the culture of different populations, but you’re not in that culture,” he said.

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Tiller said that he has had to dodge stereotypes during his time in the midwestern city.

“The mindset in Green Bay, Black and brown folks, it’s almost like stepping back in time,” he said.

“So I have to go debunking some micro-aggressions … They think the majority of us, we like fried chicken and watermelon. I prefer my chicken baked.”

The show’s host characterized the town’s racial makeup as “lily white.”

“A lily on top of a lily,” Tiller said in response.

Tiller’s resignation came after a closed-door board meeting.

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