By Alex Lloyd Gross
Zach Ruff, 40, Assistant Vice Principal to the Dowingtown STEM Academy has been suspended indefinable , after being caught on video cursing at, and trying to intimidate two teenagers who were protesting abortion, on a public street, outside his school. “YOU DON’T TALK TO MY STUDENTS” Ruff screamed at the pair, who were recording the incident. He then used profanity at the students and tried to drown out their attempts to speak by loudly singing.
The STEM Academy is a prestigious school and maybe 20 years ago, this incident would not have turned out the way it did. However, with the advent of everyone having a cell phone and recording everything, it came back to bite Ruff, when the video was shared to social media. The school district issued an apology to students, and Patricia McGlone said “We are so dismayed, so dismayed” when asked about Ruff,s conduct. The Superintendent, Lawrence Mussoline made a statement that he was disappointed in Ruff. “His comportment was never something I would have expected him this educational leader.” Prior to this incident, Ruff was a highly respected school employee. You can read the statement here.
During the heated protest, Ruff said that “I,m as gay as the day is long, and twice as sunny”. He threatened to call the police and so did the students, who were standing on a public sidewalk. He told the students “You can go to Hell” and said cursed President Donald Trump. The teenagers, Connor and Lauren Haines do not attend the STEM Academy.
The students at the school have supported Ruff, and have launched a petition to keep him there. The school district will make a decision May 2017. You can watch the video here. Ruff should have known the pair would put the video on the internet. The video has now gone viral and both sides have their supporters. Ruff is a recent Doctoral In Education graduate from Drexel University. Downingtown is about 45 minutes from central Philadelphia.