Steve Shirilla Placed on Leave After Crash Netflix Documentary
Steve Shirilla was placed on administrative leave from Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland after crash netflix released The Crash. The move links a school personnel decision to renewed attention around Mackenzie Shirilla’s 2022 case, and it puts an art and digital media teacher at a Catholic school serving children ages 5 to 14 under review.
The school told parents, “We are investigating allegations made on social media that one of our teachers has demonstrated poor judgement.” It added, “Upon learning of the allegation the school acted immediately and placed the teacher on administrative leave.”
Mary Queen of Peace School
Mary Queen of Peace School said, “The investigation is ongoing,” and told families it would provide additional communication “as appropriate during the active personnel investigation.” That leaves the day-to-day classroom question in the school’s hands for now, not in Shirilla’s.
A parent said students “did love and respect Mr. Shirilla as a teacher,” and argued the leave was “not for actions he has done at the school itself” but “as a result of the backlash of the community.” The same parent said, “Our school and the Catholic Diocese do their background checks and due diligence while hiring teachers.”
Mackenzie Shirilla Case
On July 31, 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her vehicle in Strongsville, Ohio, traveling 100 mph before slamming into a brick wall. The crash killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan.
In 2023, a Cuyahoga County judge found her guilty of multiple charges, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide, and sentenced her to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years served. The documentary has pulled that case back into view, and the school is now dealing with the fallout around a teacher who is also the defendant’s father.
What Families See Now
For families at the school, the immediate change is simple: Shirilla is out of the classroom while the personnel review continues. The sharper issue is whether the school treats the backlash as a staffing problem or as a wider trust problem, because its own message to parents ties the leave to social media allegations and to student safety, wellbeing, and trust.
