“The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education became aware of some deplorable actions and comments made last week at one of our breakout sessions during the summer conference in Oklahoma City,” said Paula Bowles, a spokeswoman for the agency. “As soon as the department was made aware of the situation, an internal investigation was launched.”

The agency does not condone or tolerate such action, Bowles said, and “we are taking steps to ensure this does not occur in the future. … This incident is not representative of the CareerTech system throughout the state.”

Mack said the individual who called the black instructor to the stage is retired and does not work for the agency. The black agricultural education instructor had been a colleague of the other individual and was not upset over the incident, she said.

Neither the person who bestowed the items on the instructor nor the instructor has been named.

Asked whether any final disciplinary action had been taken, Mack said she was not at liberty to discuss personnel matters.

In an email to lawmakers, Mack confirmed the investigation and said the agency is taking steps to ensure that anything similar does not happen in the future.