Hillsborough art teacher fired after hanging doll in class [View all]

[Zorro]

The district has forwarded the case to the state for a review of the teacher’s certification.

The Hillsborough County school district has fired an art teacher at Barrington Middle School after a video was widely circulated showing her wrapping a cord around the neck of a Black baby doll and hanging it over a classroom television screen.

The video was shared by the parent of a student who said students present were “deeply offended and disturbed by this racist act.”

District superintendent Van Ayres called the display “inappropriate and highly offensive.”

District spokesperson Tanya Arja said after the district’s Office of Professional Standards concluded their investigation, the incident was reported to the state’s Department of Education’s Office of Professional Practice Services “for any action regarding her teaching certificate.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2026/05/20/hillsborough-tampa-teacher-hanging-doll/