The head of the Cobb County Association of Educators said he’s heard “no word” on any possible disciplinary action that may be or has been taken against teachers who walked out on a school year kickoff speech by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale last month.
Jeff Hubbard told East Cobb News on Wednesday that he all he knows is that “employees were only told ‘next steps’ ” would occur this week.
Between 100 to 200 teachers reportedly were called in for questioning last week by Cobb County School District officials after they walked out on remarks Ragsdale gave the week before the 2026-27 year began, and that included the district’s removal of sexually explicit materials that he linked to sex trafficking.
Those questioned were reportedly asked if they left the mandatory event before it was over and if they had permission to do so.
Hubbard did say that “the interviews suddenly stopped after [last] Wednesday after all of the media reports.”
The exact number of teachers questioned, and the schools where they teach, are unclear, as is the potential action, although Hubbard said that “staff would most likely be charged with insubordination/unprofessional behavior.”
East Cobb News contacted the Cobb school district this week, and Thursday morning the communications department replied only that “at this time, we do not have any updates to share.”
Hubbard said that “the more interesting thing we have learned is that some schools have had no interviews of staff (with confirmed walkouts) or partial (only some staff interviewed some staff members, but not all who walked out).
He added that the majority of the schools where teachers were questioned are in “South and Central Cobb, although we have confirmation of walkouts throughout the entire county.”
Ragsdale’s speech was delivered at Harrison High School, but teachers and staff also were watching remotely in avent that was livestreamed at their own schools.
He reiterated public comments he’s made over the last few years as the district removed objectionable materials, and continued to link them to sex trafficking.
“Make no mistake about it. It’s about the protection and safety of kids,” Ragsdale said in his address. “Nothing having to do with politics. There is no room for disagreeing with what we’re doing. Somebody that disagrees with it has no business in education or anywhere around education, where there is responsibility of kids.”
He also said some of those critical of the book removals “have chosen to run for the Board of Education.”
That was a veiled reference to Micheal Garza, a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent David Chastain in Northeast Cobb’s Post 4 in a November election with party control of the Cobb Board of Education at stake.
Critics spoke out against Ragsdale at a school board meeting last month, and Democratic activists have continued online and on other platforms, accusing Ragsdale of unprofessionalism and improperly injecting politics into a staff event.
Hubbard said that some teachers felt “defeated, disgusted and disheartened,” and accused the district of retaliation for questioning those who objected.
The district acknowledged only that “district leadership has continued conversations with some individual educators. Those conversations ensure alignment, communication, and like any personnel investigation, are not publicly available.”
Hubbard told East Cobb News Wednesday that CCAE members have been told to reach out “if interviewed or if they walked out but were not interviewed.”
While the CCAE and its parent organization, the Georgia Association of Educators, are not teachers’ unions, they can provide legal and professional support “as needed.”
At the top of its website, CCAE has put up a contact link near a headline saying “Standing With Our Members.”
Related:
- Wheeler mixed team comes in 1st at Wildcat Raider Challenge
- Ragsdale and critics clash again over books, cultural issues
- East Cobb high schools stand out in U.S. News rankings
- Letter to the Editor: Drag queen author’s book in Reading Bowl
- Cobb school board to get demographic update at work session
- East Cobb students named to Cobb Youth Leadership class
- Campaign to ‘flip’ Cobb school board control intensifies
- 3 East Cobb school PTAs get School of Excellence recognition
- 2026 Milestones test results: East Cobb middle, high schools
- 2026 Milestones test results: East Cobb elementary schools
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