NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A two-time Teacher of the Year is now under investigation after a Facebook post referred to students as “from the hood.”

A teacher and athletic director who currently works at Ruffner Academy posted the message in a private Facebook group “Virginia Beach Moms” on Wednesday night.

“Going on a field trip to the zoo tomorrow from 1-3 with my 60 middle school kids from the hood. Fair Warning!” the post read.

Immediately others in the group began to comment and share the post. 

“I was like, ‘Wow? Are you kidding me? Why would you say something like this?'” said Sydneigh Lillard, a mother of three who is part of the Facebook group. “It was really sick to me for that to be coming from an educator.”

Lillard said educators, in her opinion, are supposed to serve as role models and help uplift students. Lillard doesn’t think the teacher was doing anything close to that in this case.

“To draw negative attention to them by referring to them as kids from the hood?” Lillard said. “People don’t think of positive things when they think of ‘the hood’. But being from the hood doesn’t mean the kids are bad.”

WAVY has made an editorial decision not to name the teacher as she has not been charged with any crime.

She has been honored twice as a Teacher of the Year, according to the Norfolk Public Schools Facebook page. She was first given the honor while teaching at Chesterfield Academy and then again this year as athletic director at Ruffner. 

Her Facebook posts and accounts have since been deleted. However, before they were she responded under her initial post.  

“I apologize for my poor choice in words,” the post read. “I am Teacher of the year and truely love my students. I was just trying to give a heads up they (as any middle school group) can be rambunctious. I understand if you want to report me and I’ll face the consequence. I just wanted to let you know. Thanks.”

If the words “in the hood” weren’t included in the post, Lillard said she wouldn’t have thought twice about the post.

“Yeah, it would have been, ‘oh gosh, it’s going to be a bunch of crazy kids at the zoo today!'” Lillard said. “In this case they really need to take a look at who is educating our kids and our kids are the future.”

A spokesperson from Norfolk Public Schools released the following statement: 

Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) is aware of a disturbing social media post that has been circulating today. The views expressed in this post are not reflective of NPS as we pride ourselves with being the cornerstone of a proudly diverse community. A full investigation has been launched into this situation. As this is a personnel matter we are limited in making any further comment.