A Kankakee middle school teacher was dismissed this week after sending a racist image from her school email to colleagues, a move that drew swift action from district leaders and prompted a special board meeting. The unanimous vote to fire the teacher underscores how the district is treating incidents of racial misconduct among staff.
The board met Wednesday and approved the immediate termination of Ksenia Matson, a special-education teacher at Kennedy Middle School who had been in her second year with Kankakee School District 111.
District officials say Matson circulated an image in a staff group chat that referenced the racist rhyme commonly known as “Ten Little” and included the racial slur. A colleague reported the message to a principal, the superintendent was notified, and the image began to spread online as the district launched an investigation.
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- Last week: The offensive image was sent from a school email account into a staff “tag” group intended for morale-boosting messages.
- Immediately after: A staff member alerted school leadership; the principal informed the superintendent.
- Before the meeting: The district opened an investigation as the image circulated outside the school.
- Special meeting Wednesday: The board unanimously rejected Matson’s resignation and voted to terminate employment.
Board President Chris Bohlen said the image had been shared within a lighthearted email chain used by staff for social interaction, but he emphasized the content crossed a line and could not be tolerated. He described the termination as a necessary reaffirmation of the district’s standards for respectful treatment.
Superintendent Teresa Lance issued a statement on March 27 saying the conduct was unacceptable and that the district is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for students, families and staff. The statement apologized for the harm caused and said the district would not minimize the impact.
The board cited the severity of the incident when it refused to accept Matson’s offer to resign and instead moved to terminate her employment. Because personnel matters are confidential, school leaders did not provide details of the resignation or the internal process leading up to the vote.
This is not the first time Kankakee district officials have taken decisive action over racial incidents: in 2022 a high school teacher was fired after a recorded incident in which racially charged language was used with a student.
The episode raises immediate questions for families and staff about oversight of employee communication, the boundaries of staff-run social groups, and how districts enforce conduct policies. For parents and community members, the district’s response signals a firm stance but may also prompt calls for clearer policies and additional training to prevent similar incidents.
What to watch next:
- Whether the district revises its staff communication guidelines or social-group protocols.
- Any follow-up measures announced by the board, including training or policy changes.
- Community meetings or statements from parent and student groups about school climate and accountability.
The district has confirmed the termination and said it will continue to work with affected students, families and staff to address the consequences of the incident and restore trust in school communities.
