A special tribunal appointed by the Cobb County School District to hear a fifth-grade teacher’s appeal of her termination under Georgia’s “divisive concepts” in education law has voted to reject Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s recommendation to fire her.
The tribunal issued a decision Monday saying that Due West Elementary School teacher Katherine Rinderle should not lose her job for reading a book to her students about gender identity called “My Shadow Is Purple.”
The firing, which took place in June, formally accused Rinderle of insubordination, willful neglect of duties and “other good and sufficient cause.”
The tribunal’s recommendation is being forwarded to the Cobb Board of Education, which has the final say and is having its August meetings on Thursday.
While stating that Rinderle “disobeyed the instructions of her supervisor to avoid sensitive and controversial topics in the selection of supplemental resources,” the tribunal concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to find her guilty of insubordination.
The tribunal—consisting of retired Cobb principals John Kelly, Cheryl Davis and Linda Kenney—found that there was sufficient evidence to find Rinderle guilty of the other two accusations.
Rinderle was fired for violating a 2022 state 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.
Rinderle appealed her termination, and public commenters supported her at last month’s board meetings.
and a two-day public hearing took place last week at Cobb school district headquarters, with news media and several dozen members of the public in attendance.
She’s believed to be the first teacher fired in Georgia under the divisive concepts law, and argued in her appeal that she wasn’t provided proper guidance on how to teach about issues relating to gender identity.
The tribunal determined that among the lessons stemming from her reading of the book was the introduction of they/them preferred pronouns.
The panel also said that Rinderle “was knowingly untruthful when she denied understanding that the topic of gender identity or gender fluidity was a sensitive or controversial topic in this community” and that she “exhibited poor judgment when she failed to recognize the book and her lesson on ‘My Shadow is Purple’ addressed the topic of gender identity.”
Another issue the tribunal was asked to decide was scratched out completely without a determination, that the content of the book “involves a purpose that should be left for parents to address with their children at home,” per Cobb school district policy.
The tribunal report amended another questions and hand-wrote that Rinderle should have known that reading the book “is not appropriate and [she] should have communicated with local school admin. for approval.”
(You can read the tribunal’s report by clicking here.)
Rinderle, who was represented by attorneys furnished by the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in a statement that while she appreciated the tribunal’s vote she denies violating any policies.
“That finding remains unjust and punitive,” she said. “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.”
The Cobb school board meets for a public work session at 3 p.m. Thursday, followed by an executive session at which personnel matters are to be discussed.
The board can approve, reject or modify the tribunal’s decision.
Related:
- East Cobb schools hold steady in 2023 Georgia Milestones scores
- Lassiter art teacher named Cobb schools HS teacher of the year
- Cobb parents ask for ‘inclusivity’ after teacher’s firing
- Cobb school board adopts millage rate as Banks votes present
- Federal judge sides with Cobb schools in redistricting suit
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