REIDSVILLE, N.C. — "We've got your back."
That was the message to ousted Rockingham County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rodney Shotwell from members of the Reidsville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
The NAACP said their mission is to eliminate acts of discrimination regardless of race or color.
Rockingham County NAACP president Jeffery Crisp said they feel the firing of Dr. Rodney Shotwell was just that, an act of discrimination.
“How could it be possible to do this to a man who has done nothing wrong,” Crisp said.
During a Friday news conference, NAACP members demanded an explanation from school board members about why Shotwell was fired and demanded he gets his job back.
"Dr. Shotwell has made significant strides of excellence throughout his tenure to transform this district into an oasis of best practices of an educational system. He's a strong advocate of students first. A trailblazer and trendsetter of modern technology, and a positive role model for our community," said NAACP Reidsville speaker Dr. Joseph Bryant.
The chapter said Shotwell helped improve student test scores, increased the graduation rate, built new facilities, and recruited great teachers during his administration.
Bryant said the decision does not reflect the wishes of the community.
We refuse to accept the behavior of this school board to take such a defiant position," Bryant said. "It's evident this board doesn’t know competent leadership when they see it."
Shotwell, a registered Republican, was fired by the Republican-led school board on Monday. He said he wasn't given a reason why.
Marjorie Williamson a retired teacher among crowd said Dr. Shotwell needs to be reinstated.
“Dr. Shotwell has made a difference since he came into this school system,” Williamson said. “Our teachers are in agreement with keeping him and we do not and will not allow this to happen.”
WFMY News 2 reached out to every board member who voted to fire him. Apparently, they don't have to give a reason.
In a statement, Board Chair Kimberly McMichael said, "The Board of Education voted 4-3 to terminate Dr. Shotwell's contract. No reason was provided because the contract allows termination with a 90-day notice."
The Rockingham County Democratic Party is also speaking out against Shotwell's firing, saying it "vehemently denounces the recent action of four members of the Rockingham County Board of Education."