Marilyn Zuniga, a third grade teacher in Forest Street Elementary School in New Jersey apologized to parents after she told her students to write get well cards to convicted cop killer, Mumia Abu-Jamal
Abu-Jamal was recovering after being released from the hospital due to complications from diabetes.
Orange School Superintendent Ronald Lee said that school administrators were surprised to learn of the assignment because the teacher did not seek the approval of the school or parents.
Zuniga has been placed on paid leave pending the results of an investigation.
Abu-Jamal is serving a life sentence for killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
Abu-Jamal spent 30 years on death row before his sentence was converted to life imprisonment in 2008 after years of appeals.
Zuniga gave the letters from her students to Baruch College Professor Johanna Fernandez who handed it over to Abu-Jamal.
Orange School Superintendent Ronald Lee said that school administrators were surprised to learn of the assignment because the teacher did not seek the approval of the school or parents.
Zuniga has been placed on paid leave pending the results of an investigation.