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Parents in a Minnesota school district are demanding accountability from a now-banned substitute teacher who was accused of “inappropriate and racist behavior,” including a re-enactment of the killing of George Floyd during a high school English class earlier this week.

Wisconsin police officer Steven Dwayne Williams — who served Monday as a substitute English teacher at Woodbury High School in Washington County, Minnesota — is seen in a photo obtained by CNN, “performing the prone restraint on a student in fourth period English,” Shawn Hogendorf, director of communications for South Washington County Schools, told CNN on Wednesday.

He had “put a student on the ground in front of the class as part of a reenactment of police actions that resulted in the murder of George Floyd,” the school said Tuesday in a letter to students, families and staff. personal, recognizing the “racial harm” done.

CNN made multiple attempts to reach Williams for comment.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died during his arrest on May 25, 2020, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded for help and said he I couldn’t breathe. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in a state trial in 2021 and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. He later pleaded guilty in federal court to depriving Floyd of his civil rights.

Floyd’s killing sparked a wave of protests around the world, as well as a series of legislative measures intended to combat police brutality and racial bias.

“Police brutality is not real,” Williams allegedly told students, according to the school’s letter sent to parents. He also allegedly told students that “cops would be the best criminals” and that “they know how to get away with it,” adding that he once got an “A” on a paper on how to escape to murder, according to the letter.

In a letter to Woodbury High School families Monday, Principal Sarah Sorenson-Wagner called the incident a “racially damaging situation” and said the school immediately removed the teacher from the classroom and was removed from the school after receiving several complaints from students.

“We continue to investigate the incident, but I want to assure you that the substitute teacher will not return to Woodbury High School,” the letter states.

The Woodbury Police Department is investigating the incident and Williams is no longer allowed on district property, according to the high school.

“We are troubled by the preliminary information about what happened,” Woodbury Public Safety Director Jason Posel told CNN on Thursday. “The safety of students, faculty, staff and our community is our top priority. We will investigate this incident to the fullest extent possible, while showing compassion to the students involved.

Williams was reported to the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the school said.

“Schools should be places where students feel safe to learn and grow,” Anna Kurth, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Education, told CNN on Thursday. “MDE is aware of the situation and has been in contact with South Washington County Schools to offer resources to students, families and staff.”

Teachers On Call, the recruiting agency that placed Williams at the school, is “deeply concerned about the reported misconduct of a former employee on assignment” and is cooperating with the district and law enforcement in their investigation , according to a press release published Thursday.

“We recognize the significant public trust placed in us to ensure that our substitute educators maintain a safe learning environment,” the statement said. “We have a zero tolerance policy for any form of violent, aggressive or harmful behavior. »

Williams is no longer an employee of the organization, the release said.

“Substitute educators undergo a rigorous selection process that is fully compliant with Minnesota Department of Education standards and includes selections that go above and beyond state requirements,” Teachers On Call said. “The substitute educator involved in the reported misconduct satisfied all required background checks before being assigned to an assignment.”

The Prescott, Wis., police department, where Williams had been employed for two years and worked as a patrol officer, has placed him on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, according to a statement from press published by the department.

The department said Williams was off duty and not acting in an official capacity when the Minnesota incident occurred.

“The City of Prescott and the Prescott Police Department find the current allegations, if true, made against Mr. Williams to be very disturbing and reprehensible, and we do not condone his actions in any way,” the statement read. the press release.

Jackie Schneider, whose son is a senior at the school, told CNN affiliate WCCO, “I want strict assurance that this person will never teach my children again.”

Students report ‘inappropriate and racist behavior’

In addition to reenacting Floyd’s killing, students reported a series of other actions the substitute teacher took that day that were “not provoked by anyone.” Students reported that he twisted a student’s arm behind his back, faked a punch with his fist near his face and imitated brandishing a gun and pointing it at students, the statement said. letter.

Williams also made “racist comments,” told sexist jokes, shared details about dead bodies and sexual assault cases, shared the names of people he arrested and spoke at length about his gun collection, officials said. students reported.

“This reported behavior is reprehensible. I am embarrassed and sorry that this happened to our students. We will take as much time as students need to listen and create open space for courageous conversations that lead to healing, action and education,” school officials said. “The reported actions are not and will not be tolerated at Woodbury High School or South Washington County Schools.”

The school said it partnered with Teachers on Call to ensure Williams was removed from the substitute list and never allowed to fill vacancies in the school district. The agency said Williams passed all background checks before being assigned to an assignment, CNN affiliate KARE reported.

On Tuesday, school staff met with each of the English classes that had a substitute teacher on Monday, and students will have additional opportunities to discuss it next week, according to Tuesday’s letter. School and district officials said they are working on “next steps to repair the harm caused to students and staff at Woodbury High School.”