The New Mexico teacher who told a black student that Santa Claus is white was put on paid administrative leave, Monday.
Spokesperson with the Rio Rancho school district Kim Vesely told Albuquerque news stations KOAT and KOB that the teacher would not be allowed back on school grounds, but didn't specify for how long, according to the Associated Press.
The teacher first came under fire earlier this month, after Cleveland High School students were allowed to come to school dressed as an elf, reindeer or Santa Claus.
When Christopher Rougier walked into his ninth-grade classroom dressed as Santa, the teacher singled him out and asked, "Don't you know Santa Claus is white? Why are you wearing that?"
Christopher's father Michael Rougier responded in outrage to the racially charged comment.
"This is racial in its context and that's my issue right now," Michael Rougier told KRQE News at the time.
Rougier also said he intended to have the teacher fired.
"I don't believe that this man needs to be teaching children. My children cannot fight for themselves. I'm that person that has to do it. I will use any and all tools necessary at my disposal to do that," he stated.
Christopher was removed from the teacher's class, AP reported, while Michael Rougier urged the school district to move forward on disciplinary action.
Announcements of the teacher's unsavory comments came during the same week that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly claimed that both Santa Claus and Jesus were white.
