The Harrison-Morton Middle School principal who has been on leave following an incident at an Allentown park in September has resigned, the Allentown School District announced late Thursday afternoon.
Stephanie Williams also broke her silence on the matter, saying the outburst captured on video and widely circulated on social media was related to “lifelong” mental health struggles.
“Silence only allows misinformation and stigma to grow,” Williams said in a four-minute video . “I refuse to allow that to happen to my story. I have worked far too hard to get here.”
Williams, 39, said she has bipolar disorder, and was in the midst of a manic episode brought about by stress, burn out and the “unbearable weight of being a leader.”
“I am sharing my truth because I know I’m not alone,” she said. “Bipolar disorder is real. Stress is real. Disabilities are real, and they impact us every day. We all deserve compassion and care, no matter who we are or what title we hold. This whole viral experience has reminded me of why I do the work that I do. I am a special ed teacher. I am a leader. I am a mother. And I am a staunch advocate for communities of children and families who are disenfranchised. I am moving forward with a clear purpose to break stigma, to call out systems that perpetuate burn out and silence, and to bring a voice to the voiceless.”
Williams was appointed Harrison-Morton principal in July. She has been on administrative leave from the district — and using her paid time off — since the incident Sept. 13 at Buck Boyle Park, according to the district. for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief for acting in an “erratic” manner and harassing people at the park, according to Allentown police.
Williams submitted her resignation Wednesday, according to district spokesperson Melissa Reese. The school board is scheduled to formally vote on her resignation at its next regular meeting Oct. 23.
“We thank Ms. Williams for her leadership and service to the Allentown School District,” Reese said in a statement. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
Reese said the district is unable to share further details about the situation, which “remains a sensitive and confidential personnel matter.”
Arcelius Brickhouse, the district’s executive director of instructional leadership, will continue to serve as Harrison-Morton’s acting principal.
“We are confident in his leadership and the school’s continued commitment to student learning and success,” Reese said.
Videos of the Buck Boyle Park incident, which quickly spread on social media, showed Williams seemingly out of breath and acting strangely, including rolling on the ground at one point.
When police responding to the park began walking Williams and her child to the parking lot, Williams allegedly began confrontational. After she was placed in a police vehicle while officers looked for other family members to take care of the child, Williams kicked the vehicle’s window out, according to police.
She was later taken to the police station where she continued the “inexplicable” behavior, and was sent to a hospital for an evaluation, police said.
In her video, Williams thanked supporters and said the way the incident was portrayed “has been deeply painful.”
“As a Black woman, my vulnerability wasn’t just questioned, it was turned into entertainment,” she said.
Williams went on to say she would be creating a space in which mental health struggles could be discussed.
“Resilience isn’t about never falling,” she said. “It’s about getting back up and using your pain to define your purpose. If you take anything from my story, I hope that you remember that you are excellent, you are brilliant, and one moment does not define you.”
