FRIENDSWOOD, Texas (AP) — A Southeast Texas school has put a teacher on leave pending an investigation into an allegation that he asked an American-born Muslim student if she was grieving because her “uncle” had died, referring to Osama bin Laden, a school district spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The teacher, whom officials of the Clear Creek school district did not identify, is accused of offending the American-born female student Monday during a ninth-grade algebra class at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, located 23 miles southeast of Houston.

District spokeswoman Elaina Polsen told KTRK-TV of Houston the teacher was placed on leave after another student reported the taunt to her mother.

“The student did the right thing and immediately notified an adult regarding the teacher’s comments. The principal at Clear Brook High School notified the child’s parents and has been in communication with the family,” Polsen said.

Polsen said the comment doesn’t reflect school or district staff attitudes.

Islamic Society of Greater Houston President Aziz Siddiqui told KTRK that the group is satisfied with the district’s response.

“A lot of people are ignorant in the world, and so you just have to ignore them,” he said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.