Principal Apologizes For Student Selfie In Collins Hill Yearbook

DACULA, GA — The principal of Collins Hill High School apologized Wednesday for a photo printed in its yearbook that showed a student holding a fake “N-Word Pass” while appearing to stand next to Martin Luther King Jr.

The digital selfie apparently slipped by editors near the end of the year as schools transitioned to digital learning because of the pandemic, according to principal Kerensa Wing. The photo was discovered earlier this week when yearbooks arrived from the printer and were distributed to students.

“I am angry and appalled that this has happened and that it wasn’t stopped before going to print and sent to students,” one Collins Hill parent wrote to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

According to WSB-TV Action News, it's unclear whether or not the student pictured actually participated in altering the photo. Gwinnett County school officials are investigating.

Patch has chosen not to post an image of the photo.

"Everyone's saying they want their money back because it's been a horrible yearbook that they didn't proofread properly," graduating Collins Hill senior Milan Broughton said to Atlanta TV station CBS46.

Here is the full text of Wing’s letter to Collins Hill parents and staff, posted on the school's Facebook page:

"I am reaching out to make you aware of a disturbing issue involving our school yearbook. The yearbooks arrived this week and we began distributing them when it was brought to our attention that it includes an inappropriate and racist photograph. This is unacceptable and we are currently investigating to determine who submitted this photo and how our processes did not address this before it went to print.

"Once this investigation is completed, we will take appropriate action with those involved. In our initial investigation, it appears that some of the pages planned for the yearbook were not finished prior to our students moving to digital learning. As these photos were not available, the yearbook company replaced those pages with senior selfies that had been submitted. Unfortunately, the picture was not caught in the final proof before the yearbook went to press.

"That said, this photo was submitted by our yearbook staff and we are meeting with those involved to determine how that occurred.

"In the meantime, I want to make you aware of the steps we are taking to remove this offensive picture from our yearbook. We are working with the yearbook company to print a sticker of a replacement photo that will be mailed to all who purchased a yearbook. As we have not finished distributing the yearbooks, this photo has been altered to block the offensive message from all yearbooks still in our possession. We also will be reviewing all of our yearbook processes — from the submission of photos to final proofing — to ensure this does not occur again.

"I know offensive words and sentiments like the ones included in this photo are hurtful and you have my full apology this has happened. I am disappointed in the students involved, as this is not who we are at Collins Hill High School and does not reflect our values and beliefs."