they live here. i'm not a racist. people that know me -- i worked you know with disadvantage kids like that that couldn't get through school. we helped them get a high school dploem diploma. we've been doing it a 15 years. our heart is in it. we're not against anyone. i've never disrespected anyone. >> reporter: a lot of people disagreeing with her assessment this was not racially motivated and these were not racially charged remarks. she's received hundreds of angry e-mails. the story has blown up on social media. she is considering a leave of absence or appointing an interim brins principal. >> quickly, the valedictorian, black or white? >> reporter: african-american i believe. >> she says she feels this was not in a disrespectful way.