The handwritten letter of resignation from Jennifer Cooley.  

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Murray County school board member Frank Adams said a video showing a former teacher at Murray County High School using racially charged language was “embarrassing for everyone involved, except apparently her.”

“I hope there is never another incident like this in the history of Murray County,” Adams said. 

The teacher in the video, Jennifer Cooley, resigned on Friday after the video circulated on social media sites last week. School officials first took Cooley out of the classroom, then said she was on paid leave. A former deputy at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, she was in her first year teaching law and justice classes at the school.

In a handwritten resignation letter, Cooley said she “learned a lot and appreciate the opportunities that I have been provided. Murray County has a great educational system and I am proud to have had the opportunity to work at Murray County High School.”

In the 10-second video, Cooley is sitting at a desk as someone begins recording her on the social media app Snapchat. Cooley says “n—– lips,” then people begin laughing. Someone says, “Do it again.” Cooley pauses, then puckers her lips. The people continue laughing.

The video was taken Wednesday afternoon, said Mike Tuck, director of administrative services and communication for Murray County Schools.

“It was in Miss Cooley’s classroom, and her students were in the classroom at the time,” he said last week.

Adams said the situation was dealt with promptly and accurately.

“People have to realize when something gets on film it never goes away,” he said. “That was a very stupid thing … especially entertaining kids, who will laugh at anything.”

Adams said as far as he knows there has never been a problem like the video before in the school system. 

Jesse Welch has a stepchild who attends the school. He said Cooley resigning was the “best decision.”

“Teachers are supposed to be role models,” he said. “That kind of behavior in front of students is not teaching them the right way.” 

Welch said there is “no excuse for a teacher to display this kind of behavior in class.”