The Houston Independent School District has taken disciplinary action against a principal accused of calling a student the N-word.

Marques Carter said it happened at Attucks Middle School in southeast Houston.  Carter told KPRC Local 2 that there was a food fight in the cafeteria and while the principal tried to get things under control, he laughed.

Carter said that's when the principal used the term.

"Because she told everyone to be quiet and I started laughing," said Carter.

His mother, Marquesha Carter, said that when she heard about the incident, she was livid.

"We don't use that word in our family at all.  Period." She said.

The principal is Dr. Deirdre Sharkey. According to the school's website, Sharkey was a microbiologist before becoming an administrator. She has a background in science and education.

Quanell X, Houston's leader of the New Black Panthers, said Ms. Sharkey is also African-American, making the incident more insulting in his view.

"No matter what the principal's race is, there should be a zero tolerance policy for the N-word coming out of a teacher's mouth toward another administrator or a child," said Quanell X.

HISD issued the following statement: "Attucks Middle School Principal Deirdre Sharkey has acknowledged using inappropriate language on campus. Ms. Sharkey apologized for her remarks and the district took appropriate disciplinary action against her."