Pa. principal who wore blackface to take sabbatical, be teacher

GLEN ROCK, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania school principal who wore blackface to a staff meeting last year is taking a one-year sabbatical and will return as a teacher.

The York Dispatch reports that minutes from a June 20 school board meeting indicate that Friendship Elementary School principal Lisa Boyer’s yearlong leave was approved “for restoration of health.”

Officials said the Southern York County School District principal wore skin-darkening makeup to portray black Family Feud host Steve Harvey during a staff team-building exercise last summer.

A former food service contract employee alleged in January that the incident was “swept under the rug.” Superintendent Sandra Lemmon said it was “promptly addressed” and Boyer was disciplined within days.

Assistant Superintendent Robert Bryson said Boyer requested the leave and “both parties agreed” she wouldn’t return as an administrator.