Newberg suspends staffer who arrived at school in blackface

A staff member at Mabel Rush Elementary School in Newberg showed up to work in blackface on Friday, according to officials.

 Courtesy photo: Newberg School District

A staff member at Mabel Rush Elementary School in Newberg showed up to work in blackface on Friday, calling herself Rosa Parks and doing so in protest of a vaccine mandate for all school district staff.

A fellow staff member at the school who provided initial information on the incident said Lauren Pefferle — a special education assistant — darkened her face with iodine.