On Apr. 8, at 3:23 PM, a post was uploaded to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The post features two ripped up signs, one a pride flag and the other for BLM. The accompanying caption read, “This is what needs to happen when teachers insist on grooming kids with Pride signage and promoting hate groups such as BLM! We can’t stand for teachers ruining youth.”
The post received a wide range of replies. Some were condemning the poster’s actions, but other rallied behind him and tagged famous right-wing personalities like Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump. Shockingly, the post came from a Parkway School District substitute, Jason Bryant Jennings.
On Apr. 5, Jason Bryant Jennings substituted in Christine Stricker’s classroom while she was absent. At first, Jennings acted as any substitute teacher would, passing out assignments and maintaining order in the classroom. The day passed without significant issue. Jennings bantered with students and mostly watched videos on his tablet.
However, at the end of the day Jennings tore down two signs from the wall of the classroom. Jennings then ripped them up and took a picture of the damage on Stricker’s desk before posting them to social media. Jennings proceeded to sweep the evidence into his bag and continue on.
On Apr. 12, during AcLab, Stricker was shown Jennings’ Twitter account by Charlie Solomon. Stricker found the tweet and reported the vandalism to Tim McCarthy, building principal. At the time, Jennings was substituting in a Spanish class during fourth period when McCarthy pulled him out to address the incident.
McCarthy showed Jennings the post and asked if it was his, when Jennings affirmed this he was asked to leave campus. Jennings complied and was escorted off the premises by McCarthy.
That same day, McCarthy sent out a newsletter to Parkway Central families detailing the situation.
“PCH Community,
As you may have seen on the news, we received reports today of inappropriate conduct by a substitute teacher at Central High.
Reports from students and staff stated that a substitute teacher destroyed the classroom materials of a Central High teacher. Specifically, the reports indicated the individual took down signs that showed support for Black and LGBTQ+ students and tore them up. In addition, we received reports from students that the individual solicited votes during the school day for his upcoming campaign.
Based on my initial investigation and after consulting with human resources, I addressed the incident with the individual and escorted him out of the building. Kelly Education employs the substitute who has worked part-time in some Parkway schools since 2022. Parkway reported the conduct to Kelly Education and we are providing them with information needed to support their investigation. Parkway and Kelly Education have policies and expectations regarding the professional behavior of all staff.
I am deeply sorry this incident occurred at Central High. The safety and well being of our students and staff are always our highest priority. I am also extremely grateful that our students and their teacher recognized that this incident was in violation of who we are as a school community and reported their concerns directly to Central High administrators. With that level of commitment to each other, I am confident that the success and positivity that has been so much a part of this school year will continue in the weeks to come.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
Tim McCarthy
Principal, PCH”
But who exactly is this substitute?
Jason Bryant Jennings is a sports agent that is currently running for the Missouri House of Representatives for District 100. Jennings is the CEO and founder of Narrow Pathway Management, a company that offers representation for athletes, coaches, entertainers and other personalities. The majority of their clientele is young women from across America.
Jennings’s campaign page reveals some of his ideals: Pro-life, anti-immigration, and anti-CRT. He boasts some impressive endorsements from people like Olympic gold medalist Leah Amico and country singer Natasha Owens.
Despite his profession, Jennings has been substituting for Parkway exclusively since 2022.
Parkway School District sources substitute teachers from Kelly Education, a division of the global employment agency Kelly Services. Per their website, Kelly Education uses referral programs, in depth research and specialized screening to “engage diverse, highly qualified, and culturally aligned candidates that others simply cannot reach.”
However, Jennings’s behavior was anything but that of a culturally aligned candidate. After being confronted, Jennings doubled down and showed no remorse.
In an interview with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Jennings said, “I have no regrets about what I did. A lot of people have been very supportive, and a lot of people are mad about it.”
Jennings further claims that this was not the first time he removed similar decorations from classrooms and has never faced any repercussions.
Unfortunately, Jennings’s behavior extends outside of Stricker’s classroom. He also substituted for Maureen Ruiz de Arbol, a Spanish teacher. Allegedly, according to students, Jennings ate her food and proudly expressed his political beliefs.
“He was like ‘She’s not gonna notice, it doesn’t matter’ and then he kept going through her drawers and stuff,” one anonymous student reported.
Upon discovering he was a politician, the students asked for his plans and if he would enforce a draft. Jennings responded that he wouldn’t need a draft because once Biden was gone, everyone would want to join the military. Multiple students reported to Stricker that Jennings told them to vote for him or to tell their parents to vote for him, however Jennings adamantly denies this.
In the wake of this incident, some in the Parkway community are left to wonder if there should be further guidelines for hiring substitutes. The school promises an environment of safety and inclusion. In accordance with such, Jennings has been banned from substituting in the Parkway district and is suspended by Kelly Education pending an investigation. It remains to be seen what else can be done to prevent further incidents, but moving forward, PCH promises to do better for the safety and wellbeing of students.
