Olentangy Schools paid thousands to controversial consultant whose brother is a sitting Congressman.

Olentangy Local School District has been paying Hasan Kwame Jeffries, brother of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, as a consultant for the district. In emails from April 30, 2018, Jeffries coordinates with district staff for a series of programs which includes the “One Community Conference.” The district stated it would pay Jeffries $6000 total for his services.

Board documents reveal that Jeffries was paid $300 on April 19, 2017, $200 on February 8, 2018, $1000 on June 12, 2018. The district paid Jeffries $4250 on February 22, 2019, to put on a parent workshop and another $1500 on September 30, 2020, for “Speaker for September 21st PD.”

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On August 4, 2020, Jeffries gave a presentation at the National Council for History Education Equity Summit titled “Seizing the Moment: Teaching Race & Racism Today.” The presentation features slides stating “No Justice, No Peace” and “Avoid the colorblind trap.” Another slide claims that racism is “structural” which is defined as “Prejudice embedded in systems and structures.” Other slides state that racism is in “America’s DNA” and that the solution is to “Teach resistance.”

Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries has also stirred up concern based on past social media posts.