The headmaster of the Boston Latin School has issued an apology on Tuesday, Feb. 23, for not quickly acting on racism concerns raised by students. Headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta directly apologized to the school's community, including students and parents, for not performing her duties correctly.

"After weeks of self-reflection and frank conversations, I realize that in important ways I have not succeeded. I am truly sorry," Mooney Teta said. She also gave her praise to the two students and leaders of the school's Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge.

Meggie Noel and Kylie Webster-Cazeau are the students who raised the racism issues prevalent in the Latin school. They called the school's investigation of recent racial slurs doled out by non-black students to black students as a failure. One of the incidents involved a male non-black student threatening a black female student in November 2014 with "lynching."

No Re-Investigations

The school's superintendent Tommy Chang met with Michael Curry of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on Monday. It was after the NAACP called for the firing of the school's headmaster, but Chang insisted that there will be no re-investigation of the alleged racial slurs.

However, the NAACP will be conducting its own investigation of the racism claims as well as the headmaster's shortcomings in the issues. Chang said in a statement that they will be cooperating with the NAACP's investigation as part of one community.

"The district looks forward to working with the NAACP and other community groups, and will cooperate with any outside review while continuing to adhere to student and personnel confidentiality regulations," Chang said.

Plenty of Support for the Headmaster

Mooney Teta received plenty of support from a group of parents, saying that they are confident with the headmaster's plans for racial sensitivity. The group wrote a letter that praises Mooney Teta. The said letter was addressed to the school's superintendent and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

"I feel that based on my experience with [Mooney Teta] that she will be able to lead the school through the plan that's been set forward," Catherine Campbell, one of the parents, said. They will also support the Boston Latin School's plan to recruit more minorities to study and work there.

Michael Curry of the NAACP responded to the group of parents calling them "mostly white Boston Latin School Alumni." He wrote, "We find it concerning that they show up now, but did not find it necessary to speak up as generations of black and brown families experienced a hostile racial climate."