A Kenosha Unified School District math teacher will keep his job after anti-Semitic behavior and allegations of blowing a kiss to a female student.

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According to Ryan Nachtigal’s personnel file obtained via a public records request:

Ryan Nachtigal (pronounced night-in-gail) is a teacher at the Kenosha Unified School District and has taught mathematics at Indian Trail High School and Academy for several years as a teacher. On February 7th or 8^th of this year, students were in the middle of a math lesson. During the lesson, a student raised his hand to ask a math related question. As he sat with his hand raised above his head, Mr. Nachtigal turn to him. Mr. Nachtigal looked at the student, raised his hand with a straight arm and pointed it at an angle towards the student. After raising his hand towards the student, Mr. Nachtigal stated “Heil Hitler! What is your question?”

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According to students, this was very offensive to multiple students and caused a traumatic reaction in at least one of the students who is Jewish and needed to be excused from class for about 20 minutes to regain composure. This was reported to the school authorities on Friday, February 9, 2024.

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Mr. Nachtigal admitted to the behavior, but said he was trying to be funny with the students. He was then placed on administrative leave by ITA principal Scott Kennow. Principal Kennow was then notified that the family of a Jewish student wanted to speak with him about other behavior. On February 14th 2024, the mother of the Jewish student met with the principal at the school. 

It was revealed that her son made the following allegations: 

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• When walking to lunch after math class, a student recalled a conversation where another student shared that Mr. Nachtigal spoke in German and he understood what he was saying. The student was talking to another student and shared that he was reciting “Mein Kampf” which is a memoir written by Adolf Hitler. The student that he was describing could not be identified and was not in his class. 

• Mr. Nachtigal frequently speaks in German, but is usually to himself. Things are said loud enough for students to hear. Students do not know German, so they ask Mr. Nachtigal what he is saying. Mr. Nachtigal responds by saying I can’t tell you because I would get fired or I can’t tell you because it’s not appropriate. 

• Mr. Nachtigal called students stupid. This has happened at least 5 or 6 times during the school year. 

• There were concerns that were expressed regarding instructional practices. Specifically, it was alleged that Mr. Nachtigal only teaches half the week and the other half of the week is spent playing Monopoly Go on his phone while the students have a task to work on. Concerns were shared by the students and the parent thought homework is not being created and students are not getting feedback on anything leading up to the exams or quizzes. 

As for the “Heil Hitler!” comments, three students wrote statements confirming this behavior and the teacher himself, confirmed what he had said and did. 

Principal Kennow wrote in his report: 

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“Multiple students confirm what was admitted by the teacher. These statements all confirm that Mr. Nachtigal engaged in behavior that was offensive and derogatory to students in the classroom, some of whom are Jewish. His behavior disrupted the quality of learning for multiple students and has damaged his ability to have positive relationships and trust with his students. As we focus on creating a supportive school culture for all students, this behavior isn’t direct conflict with our mission.”

Principal Kennow recommended that Mr. Nachtigal receives “disciplinary action that sends a message to our students, staff, and community that his behavior has no place in our schools or community. We talk all the time about the value of diversity and how important the safety of our students is. We are in a time where there are so many hate activities taking place against Jewish people. The behavior has no place in our school and staff members must conduct themselves in a more sensitive, supportive, and professional manner. “

Even with the strong recommendation from the principal, Kevin Neir, Chief human resources officer for the Kenosha Unified School District only issued Mr. Nachtigal a written warning. He also required Mr. Nachtigal to attend a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices: staff to student and cultural competence, and racial bias training. 

Mr. Nachtigal was also directed by Neir to provide his class with a verbal apology for his insensitive comment. “If your behavior is not corrected, for the disciplinary action may take place up to an including a recommendation to the Board of education for non-renewal and/or termination of your contract,” wrote Neir

In KUSD, only the senior staff, like Neir, who makes $150,000/year can make serious disciplinary decisions, not the principals.

Alleged “Kiss” Incident

On Friday, October 1, 2024, Principal Kennow received a complaint from a female student. She stated that on Thursday September 30, 2024, she was in her math class with her teacher Ryan Nachtigal. Nachtigal told her to go to the office of student management. She didn’t know why she was being told to go and then realize that Mr. Nachtigal was just kidding. She stated that Mr. Nachtigal then turned away and made a kissing gesture to her. The gesture was described as his tightening his lips and expressing a kiss towards her.

The student’s mother emailed the principal on October 4th and told him that she did not want to pursue this matter because she doesn’t want Mr. Nachtigal’s job being jeopardized. 

Kevin Neir, seemingly not believing the little girl, exonerated Mr. Nachtigal on October 8th 2024 with the following letter.

KCE reached out to Superintendent Jeff Weiss, who has the final say in these circumstances, and in normal fashion, he did not wish to comment. KCE also reached out to activist Rabbi Dena Feingold of Kenosha, who didn’t wish to respond to the allegations.