MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) 鈥� A trio of retired educators has rejected a suburban Atlanta school district's recommendation to fire a teacher who was removed from the classroom after she was accused of improperly reading a book on gender fluidity to her fifth-grade class.
Monday's move paves the way for Due West Elementary teacher Katie Rinderle to keep her job. But the Cobb County School Board has the final decision, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The panel reached a decision after a last week about whether Rinderle should be fired for reading the picture book 鈥淢y Shadow is Purple鈥� by Scott Stuart. The case has drawn wide attention as a test of what public school teachers can teach in class, how much a school system can control teachers and whether parents can veto instruction they dislike. It comes amid a nationwide conservative backlash to in school.
Officials in Cobb County, Georgia鈥檚 second-largest school district, argue Rinderle broke the school district鈥檚 rules against teaching on controversial subjects and decided to fire her after parents complained. She is believed to be the in Georgia to face termination under the regulations modeled after new state laws that require teachers to get preapproval to bring up potentially sensitive topics in the classroom.
But a district-appointed, three-person tribunal that heard the case denied the district鈥檚 recommendation to terminate her employment.
鈥淚 appreciate the tribunal鈥檚 consideration of my case and decision not to terminate me,鈥� Rinderle said in an emailed statement to the newspaper through the Southern Poverty Law Center. 鈥淗owever, I disagree that I鈥檝e violated any policy and that finding remains unjust and punitive. The district has never provided adequate guidance on how I am supposed to know what is and what is not allowed in the classroom based on these vague policies. Prioritizing behaviors and attitudes rooted in bigotry and discrimination does not benefit students and undermines the quality of education and the duty of educators.鈥�
The school board will have the choice to adopt, reject or modify the tribunal鈥檚 decision during Thursday鈥檚 school board meeting. Board Chair Brad Wheeler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the board would discuss the case this week.
鈥淭he board will review the tribunal鈥檚 recommendation and looks forward to returning our entire focus on educating all of our talented students,鈥� a spokesperson for the school district said in an email.
The Associated Press
