East Cobb News

An East Cobb resident who’s running for a seat on the Cobb Board of Education next year said Friday that the Cobb County School District could have employed “a policy for progressive punishment” to discipline a teacher for violating the state divisive concepts in education law instead of firing her.

Laura Judge, a Democrat who’s seeking the Post 5 seat held by current Republican vice chairman David Banks, said that she was “upset that a teacher was dismissed for introducing a book promoting understanding and inclusivity. Right now there is a student in a classroom who wants to be understood. I care about that child and every other child in our school system.”

The school board on Thursday voted 4-3 along partisan lines to uphold a decision by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to fire Katie Rinderle of Due West Elementary School.

She was appealing her firing in June for reading a book to her fifth-grade gifted class called “My Shadow Is Purple,” which discusses gender fluidity.

The Cobb school district said that’s not allowed under a 2022 law that prohibits public school teachers from discussing a number of topics, including claims that racism is “systematically” racist, that a group of people is inherently “oppressive” and some issues about sex and gender identity.

The district formally accused Rinderle of insubordination, willful neglect of duties and “other good and sufficient cause,” although a tribunal appointed by Ragsdale this week recommended that Rinderle be reinstated. 

The school board discussed the matter in executive session and then voted without comment in a Thursday night public meeting.

Banks, a member of the Republican majority, hasn’t said whether he’ll be seeking a fifth term. He’s one of three GOP board members whose terms expire in 2024.

Judge, a parent in the Walton High School cluster, said in response to a request for comment from East Cobb News about the Rinderle decision that “in our district, we should value the diversity of thought and expression, recognizing that each family and individual comes from a unique background with personal experiences that shape their perspectives. 

“While I fully respect and understand that every piece of educational material might not resonate with every member of our community, ensuring that all students feel seen and represented in their learning environment is essential. We must strike a balance between upholding our shared community values and ensuring that every student feels valued and understood.

“While many folks have differing viewpoints on whether or not they would like this book to be read around their children, there is a policy for progressive punishment that the district did not use.

“As they are in their position to hire and/or fire employees and at the tribunal stated the teacher was not ‘coachable,’ I must ask: ‘Where are the points in time when she was written up, suspended, or trained to correct such action?’ “

“It’s because of this, I am concerned about the extreme step to fire an educator and the costs to the taxpayers of this district to defend such an action. Board member constituents are more than just those in one party or who fund a campaign. They are current and former students, parents, administrators, staff, and teachers. Please let’s continue to be the best place to teach, lead, and learn for everyone. Let’s continue to try and work together to achieve the best educational environment for all our children.”

The only other announced candidate for the Post 5 seat, which covers the Walton, Wheeler and Pope clusters, is Republican John Cristadoro. East Cobb News has left a message with him seeking comment.

Judge’s comments are similar to the reaction from other Democrats. State Sen. Jason Esteves, whose District 6 includes part of East Cobb and who is a former chairman of the Atlanta Board of Education, said the firing of Rinderle was a “terrible decision that has implications beyond this case. There was no insubordination, and teachers shouldn’t work in fear.”

Former Democratic legislator and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams said that “inclusion is not controversial – it’s essential. Reading is fundamental (and magical). Cobb school board members took an oath to guide children & four broke their promise. And shame on the politicos who gave them the power to do so.”

But in response to her social media posting, the Cobb Republican Party said in a brief post on X (formerly Twitter) that “Yes @staceyabrams It IS fundamental and shouldn’t be used to groom CHILDREN. Let children be children – not targets of your woke agenda!”

The message also tagged Rinderle’s X handle.

The Cobb County Republican Assembly, whose members spoke in favor of parental rights at school board public comment periods Thursday, posted that it was “grateful” to the school board for voting to “protect children from transgenderism!”

Audrey Neu, a member of the assembly, the Cobb GOP’s education liaison and Cristadoro’s campaign manager, said that “Our board members showed tremendous courage tonight. Both the state law and county policy are clear on this issue. Parental rights must be upheld and respected by the teachers and staff. I’m thankful we have a Superintendent and Board willing to stand up and protect the children of Cobb County.”

The 1776 Project PAC, which works to elect school board members opposed to teaching critical race theory and other cultural and social justice issues, said that all Rinderle “had to do to keep her job was not talk about gender ideology with 10-year-olds.”

Rinderle, who was a teacher in Cobb for 10 years, could still appeal her termination to the Georgia Board of Education.

She was represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which said in a statement Friday that “let it be known that this is not the end for this case.