McKeesport Area School District Viral Video Update: Pattern of Pushing Black Youth Out and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
- takeactionmonvalle
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
Updated: May 6
What Happened:
On March 24, 2026, a video went viral showing a staff member in a physical altercation with a young Black female student. The student’s friend who was present recorded a portion of this and sent it the student’s mother, who posted the footage on her Facebook page (see below). The student and her family also spoke to the media (see below for the news story).
The student in the video was in the hallway with her friend (who recorded some of the incident) and were waiting for another teacher. They refused to leave after a gym teacher requested they go to class. Both have said that they should have left. However, that does not excuse what happened next.
According to the family, the gym teacher contacted one of the student’s biological Father. He showed up and escalated the situation by verbally arguing with them and becoming physical as well. The video that was shared shows him pushing and attempting to slam her. Our CEO, Fawn Walker Montgomery, is related to the student in the video, and was able to see the full video.
According to Fawn and the family, the full video shows the student attempting to disengage and walking away, before being grabbed by the neck, pinned against a wall, yelled at, and shoved. The staff member’s response was violently inappropriate and unprofessional. All of this because two students didn’t want to leave the hallway. School security guards were also present but did not intervene. It should be noted that this same employee was also involved in other altercations with students (see below for the video).
Despite this the employee was placed on paid leave pending an investigation and later allowed to return to school. No one from the school informed the students about his return; they learned of it when they saw him in the hallway and called their parents, upset. The school claims the employee is cleared to return because the McKeesport police decided not to file charges.
A separate incident occurred a few days after his return involving the student who recorded the video. School officials attempted to expel her, without any meditation or attempts to support the student, despite her being a senior with no prior disciplinary issues.
Elephant In The Room & Bigger Picture:
There has been some community disagreements about this since it involves a Father and child. However, per the child, he has never been a constant presence in her life, which is why she repeatedly said, “you’re not my father” in the video. His behavior removing a student by force was not acceptable, especially for something as simple as refusing to leave the hallway.
This event ties into broader concerns about patriarchal or gendered violence against Black women and girls, an issue that has been brought to the fore by recent high-profile cases. Regardless of relationship status, no one should experience this kind of treatment.
The decision not to fire the employee is troubling. The force shown in the video appears excessive and unnecessary. Full disclosure the employee is Black and since TAAG is a Black liberation org., we find no pleasure in calling for his termination, However, his actions are unacceptable and endanger student safety.
In this situation, how did refusing to leave the hallway lead to one student being pushed and slammed and the other one at risk for expulsion? In the district this “zero tolerance” and “law & order” stance consistently has e a disproportionately effect on Black students. This further exhibits their part in pushing out Black girls and contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline (in TAAG’s opinion, that is backed up by data).
TAAG has repeatedly spoken out against mistreatment of Black students in this district, including over-disciplining, disproportionately high suspension and expulsion rates, and the misuse of school police referrals (this came up in our lawsuit that we won to start a Black Student Union in the district).
This is not an isolated incident. The district’s approach is harmful to Black students and will likely continue to have a disproportionate impact unless changes are made.
Outcome:
Both students involved are seniors who are preparing to graduate. TAAG connected the families with mental health and legal resources. Ignite Law Group worked with the family and district to ensure the student was not expelled, allowing her to remain in school and graduate. Huge thanks to the lawyers at Ignite. TAAG attended school board meetings to advocate for the students and held discussions with district attorneys regarding the employee.
COMMUNITY ASKS & DEMANDS:
McKeesport School District hold a community meeting to review disciplinary practices, share the full video, and outline the district’s procedures.
The employee needs to be fired and for a formal investigation into the district’s disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of Black students, addressing the school-to-prison pipeline.
The community is being asked to attend school board meetings and contact board members to push for the employee’s termination and to push for an investigation into the district’s high rates of suspensions and expulsions among Black students (school to prison pipeline).
School Board Contact and Meetings:
Donald McFann, Superintendent
412-664-3600
Dr. Amy Dellapenna, Assistant Superintendent
412-664-3600
McKeesport High School, Head Principial
Eric Harper
412-664-3650
News Stories and Resources:
ACLU-PA Statement on the Settlement of McKeesport Black Student Union Lawsuit - ACLU of Pennsylvania
Videos:
Comments