Oregon Teachers Reach Settlement After Termination Over Gender Policy Opposition
Two Oregon educators have successfully settled their case against a school district, following their dismissal for opposing a policy related to transgender student rights. The teachers, Rachel Sager and Katie Medart, will receive $650,000 in compensation from the Grants Pass School District after their 2021 termination.
According to a statement by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the teachers were dismissed for their involvement in the “I Resolve” campaign. This initiative proposed alternatives to the district’s “Gender Identity, Transgender, Name, and Pronoun Guidance” policy, which permits students to use facilities matching their gender identity.
The school district policy indicates that “the District will not prohibit students from accessing restrooms, locker rooms or other facilities which may be separated by gender, that are associated with the student’s preferred gender identity.”
The “I Resolve” campaign shared a video on YouTube featuring Sager and Medart suggesting alternative approaches regarding students’ pronouns and bathroom usage. Their campaign attracted complaints from fellow staff members, alleging a breach of the district’s policy against political speech during work hours or using school resources.
Following an investigation, Sager, an assistant principal, and Medart, a health and science teacher, were placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated. The pair were later reinstated in teaching positions at an online school within the district, limiting their interaction with students compared to their previous roles.
The teachers filed a lawsuit, arguing that their termination violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, Oregon’s state constitution, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This settlement arrives after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s decision against the teachers’ claim for First Amendment damages. The appellate court concluded the school district had engaged in unconstitutional content and viewpoint-based discrimination and violated Title VII by dismissing the teachers due to their “biblically-based views on gender and sexuality.”
Matthew Hoffman, senior counsel for ADF, commended the outcome, stating, “Educators are free to express opinions on fundamental issues of public concern — like gender identity education policy — that implicate the freedoms of teachers, parents, and students.” He added, “The Grants Pass School District is taking the right step by acknowledging that teachers don’t give up their First Amendment rights when they set foot on school property. Public schools can’t retaliate against speech simply because they disagree with what’s said.”
In addition to the financial compensation, the settlement includes a public statement from the school district acknowledging the wrongful termination, positive letters of recommendation for the teachers, and revisions to ensure compliance with the First Amendment in related policies.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
