Statement from SFUSD Interim Superintendent Myong Leigh regarding incident at June Jordan School for Equity

Press Release

All of us in the San Francisco Unified School District are deeply troubled by the incident that took place yesterday afternoon in the parking lot at June Jordan School for Equity (JJSE). Our understanding at this time is that a small group of individuals unaffiliated with the school came to campus around the time of school dismissal, targeting a particular JJSE student for reasons that are presently unclear. Sadly, four students were injured during the incident. They have received appropriate medical attention and are recovering from their injuries.

We want to thank the San Francisco Police Department for their support immediately following the incident and for their work in the ongoing investigation. We are also grateful to the paramedics and medical professionals who tended to our students, and we are committed to supporting our students and their families as they overcome their physical and emotional wounds. We also appreciate the offers of support immediately made by Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor John Avalos. Finally, we commend JJSE’s leaders, faculty and students both for their steady, calm and caring actions as the situation evolved and for the dedicated and courageous efforts that they have already begun to heal from yesterday’s events.  

I need to state emphatically that this isolated event, although awful, should not be viewed as a negative reflection on JJSE. June Jordan is an intentionally small, extremely safe school focused on deep and caring relationships between all students and adults. All those connected to this school take great pride in, and put special care toward, creating a nurturing community rooted in the shared value of social justice. Through its small class sizes, college-going culture, and focus on rigorous, independent thinking, many JJSE students become the first in their families to attend college.  

Though only four students were physically injured, this terrible incident has shaken everyone in the community, particularly the staff and students at June Jordan. Fortunately the school has a strong tradition of coming together daily to discuss challenging topics and to support one another. In addition to coming together as a community, JJSE has trained counselors who will be meeting with students and faculty. We deeply appreciate the educators and students at June Jordan School for Equity and will proudly stand by them through this disturbing, but temporary, challenge.

Myong Leigh

Interim Superintendent, SFUSD

Page updated on 10/19/16