Racist Facebook post costs Mississippi teacher her job

A North Mississippi teacher has lost her job over a racist Facebook post.

The South Panola School District confirms that Cammie Rone, a teacher at Batesville Intermediate School, has been dismissed and is no longer a district employee.

Rone's dismissal resulted from a Facebook post in which someone identified as Cammie Rone says African-Americans should move back to Africa if they're unhappy with conditions here. A parent of one of Rone's second-grade students saw the post and took a picture of it.

"If blacks in this country are so offended no one is forcing them to stay here," the post reads. "Why don't they pack up and move back to Africa where they will have to work for a living. I am sure our government will pay for it! We pay for everything else."

The contents of the original post that led to the reply were not pictured.

After the controversy, Rone posted on Facebook that she thought her account had been hacked and said she could not see it. However, parent Keboni Anderson said she saw the post on her Facebook page and captured an image of it.

"I have never had a problem with Mrs. Rone," Anderson said. "I had a conference with her a week ago, and she was very nice."

But Anderson said when she saw the post, it made her feel awkward because her son is black.

"I feel if you feel that way about black people, it makes me question how you would treat my son," she said.

The school district's statement confirming Rone's dismissal, from Public Information Director Jeff Eubanks, included a copy of the district's policy on employee conduct. The policy calls for employees "to conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect positively on the school district and the community, thus promoting a positive environment for teaching, learning and student well-being."

The policy says severe violations can lead to dismissal. It gives Rone the right to appeal the decision.