Teacher Involved With White Supremacist Podcast Removed From Classroom

Dayanna Volitich, a social studies teacher at Crystal River Middle School in Florida, has been "removed from the classroom" while the school conducts an internal investigation following a report from The Huffington Post which uncovered her participation in a white supremecist podcast. Volitich has since said that the podcast was "satire."

The Citrus County School District has posted a status on their Facebook page indicating that an investigation is underway following the story from HuffPo.

Volitich had participated in the "Unapologetic" podcast under the pseudonym “Tiana Dalichov." She had reportedly bragged about working as a teacher in the show.

During one podcast, "Dalichov" had argued that “science” has proven that certain races are smarter than others. She also discussed hiding her beliefs from employers and encouraged other white supremacists to do the same.

Social media accounts under the name “Tiana Dalichov" were locked down after Huffington Post began inquiring about the podcast. Screenshots from the account show Dalichov advocating for the eradication of Muslims from the planet. 

Volitich has since claimed that the podcast was created to be satirical.

"None of the statements released about my being a white nationalist or white supremacist have any truth to them, nor are my political beliefs injected into my teaching of social studies curriculum," said Volitich in a statement issued to television station WFLA News Channel 8. "While operating under the Russian pseudonym ‘Tiana Dalichov’ on social media and the Unapologetic Podcast, I employed political satire and exaggeration, mainly to the end of attracting listeners and followers, and generating conversation about the content discussed between myself and my guests. The views ‘Tiana Dalichov’ espouses do not pervade my professional career ... I humbly ask for forgiveness, as it was never my intention to cause them grief while engaging in a hobby on my personal time."

Volitich has since directed all inquiries to her lawyer and says she will not offer further comments considering the pending investigation.

The school has attempted to distance themselves from Volitich.

"She does not speak on behalf of the Citrus County School District,” said Scott Hebert, executive director of educational services for the Citrus County School District, according to The Huffington Post. “The views she’s listed [online] are really not in line with how our district operates.”

[Photo: Twitter @TianaDalichov]