Pennsylvania teacher suspended, others lose jobs over Capitol ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the "Stop the Steal" rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. In a few cases, protesters have lost jobs even if they did not take part in the violent rioting. The district suspended Moorehead for six months, then ordered him to return to work. A Pennsylvaniateacher was suspended this week after taking part in Wednesdays riot at the U.S. Capitol, pending an investigation, the Allentown School District said, according to a report. Moorehead mentioned he was in attendance for the "Save the Steal" rally on January 6th, but never made it to the Capitol to riot, according to ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop the Steal rally which later turned to a deadly insurrection on Jan. 6 has been fired for refusing to return to work. The teacher has been relieved of his duties until the investigation plays out, Superintendent Thomas Parker wrotein a letterThursday evening. Being a teacher means he is a While the First Amendment does not protect private-sector employees from being fired for what they say, government workers have legal recourse if they believe they have been wrongly terminated, Zirkel said. He explained his position on those posts to Action News: "There had been riots and protests, where they were excused away that the damage that was done was acceptable, because buildings and private businesses were insured. Moorehead was officially reinstated in July 2021, after the investigation found he had violated the districts social media policies, but not its outside activities policy. 2022 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Suspended Allentown teacher claims he wasn't anywhere near Carr argued that she had posted her rant as a private citizen, not as a PennDOT employee and that the safety of school bus drivers was a matter of public concern. Does it make it more difficult for the school district to operate? said Hobie Webster, a Pittsburgh employment lawyer who represents school districts. ALLENTOWN A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop Please enter valid email address to continue. Let us know. That to me is too close to what the First Amendment is about in terms of protecting the democracy by protecting political speech, Zirkel said. District officials have not disclosed whether the suspended teacher was among those who breached the Capitol building. "While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully," the letter said. His termination was in no way connected to his activities on that date, the districts attorneys John E. Freund, III, and Brian J. Taylor said in a statement. Mr. "Now, when you're a government employer, the law says that you have a right to first amendment right to freedom of speech, very different than in private sector," he said. Allentown Middle School Teacher Suspended After Jan. Youve made it impossible for me to return. Utahs strong economy and business environment make it an attractive place, but experts and locals say that isnt all the Beehive State has to offer. "I had no idea people were breaking in and that destruction was happening," Andrews said. The district is mindful that teachers do not lose their [constitutional] rights because they are teachers, wrote Freund, the solicitor. Moorehead was suspended Jan. 7, 2021, and there were calls for his firing after he went to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. Moorehead said he longs to be back in the classroom. Allentown School Board gets earful about teacher placed on leave after attending Jan. 6 Capitol rally, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Allentowns school board policy on freedom of speech outside of school echoes the precedent laid out in the courts, balancing those First Amendment freedoms with the interests of this district. School board President Nancy Wilt said the board would not comment on personnel matters as it waits for the investigation to conclude. And did the speech affect the operation of the government agency? Was the Allentown teacher suspended after, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Was the Allentown teacher suspended after attending Stop the Steal rally within his rights? In 1964, Illinois school teacher Marvin Pickering wrote a letter to his local newspaper critical of the administrations spending on instruction and athletics. said Christine Condon, who also participated in the meeting. All rights reserved. A 2006 ruling in another case involving a prosecutor established that public employees are not protected when they speak in their official capacities. All rights reserved. "Taking part in assembly is an important part of our rights, so my point is you have no right to violate his constitutional rights," said Nicholas Maxell, who also participated in the meeting. Jason Moorehead, who was suspended by the Allentown School District following the U.S. Capitol riots, claims his reputation as a teacher has been tarnished by His attorney said in a Jan. 23 telephone interview, Mooreheads participation in the Trump rally challenging the presidential election results that preceded the attempted insurrection is protected by the First Amendment. Thousands of people are there, and only a few are doing the rioting and destruction. Error! Some calling in were passionate that the district was in the wrong. No," he said. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown School District. The court further narrowed protection in 1983 in the case of a New Orleans assistant district attorney who circulated a questionnaire to co-workers asking their opinions on transfers, morale and supervisors in the office. ", First published on July 29, 2022 / 8:15 PM. "There is no agenda item related to action on any employee at this board meeting," said District Superintendent Thomas Parker atThursday's school board meeting. The district has received notice Moorehead plans to take legal action in Lehigh County Court, but a complaint has not yet been filed. Ive had thousands of great relationships with students and parents.. I was trying to highlight what I believe is the double standard that often exists in the media when theyre looking at two different events from two different political groups, he said. lehighvalleylive.com I definitely have some conservative values and beliefs, but they have never taken part in what I do in the classroom, Moorehead said. I was never any closer than a mile from the riot that happened, which I didnt know about until much later. The district said previously Mooreheads social media posts about the events of Jan. 6, and not just his presence in Washington that day, were the focus of its probe last year. Teacher suspended for attending Capitol 'Stop Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. Morning Call reporter Kayla Dwyer can be reached at 610-820-6554 or kdwyer@mcall.com. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. Moorehead had the opportunity to return to work for well over a year and chose not to do so., Speaking to the board Thursday, Moorehead said the board fed the community lies. Moorehead had the opportunity to return to work for well over a year and chose not to do so., Speaking to the board Thursday, Moorehead said the board fed the community lies. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Moorehead also doesn't dispute that he attended Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021. The single word This, has become shorthand for expressing agreement with a quoted statement in many internet forums. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He took a few photos showing he was there. Over the past half-century, the Supreme Court has issued four major decisions defining the limits of public employees First Amendment rights. Pa. Banning suspensions and expulsions for willful defiance is the He said he was never a part of the violence on Jan. 6, but that the school board painted him as an active participant in the riots., When the district finally admitted to me privately that I had done nothing wrong and that I could return, they refused to let the community know that I am safe, to alleviate both their fears and my fears about returning, he said. Superintendent Thomas Parker and school district solicitor John Freund did not respond to repeated phone calls Saturday. The driver who struck and killed an Allentown teacher's aide outside a city high school in September will face charges, according to a report from WFMZ. Supporters of President Donald Trump on the National Mall. President Donald Trump speaks at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on Jan. 6. At the same time, the district has an obligation to respect the First Amendment rights of our staff and students., Moorehead posted a picture of himself wearing a Make America Great Again hat and carrying a Revolutionary War flag on Facebook with the caption Doing my civic duty. He also shared a tweet by someone else that said, Dont worry everyone the capitol is insured, to which Moorehead added This.. Ten of them have been charged with curfew violations; the three others face charges of unlawful entry, PennLive reported. Being a teacher means he is a role model and because of his profession, his personal life is public, wrote one Facebook user. Jenkins says no one from the district has contacted him or the people with them that day to question them in the investigation and says he hopes they do. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown He said his address and phone number have been posted online. Wisconsin Legislators to Consider Opioid Settlement Payout. Allentown School District relieves teacher who attended Trump But those freedoms are not absolute, and over the years, the U.S. Supreme Court has established that government bodies such as school districts may fire employees for what they say if it gets in the way of the agencys mission. App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? Success! Texas attorney Paul Davis was fired or resigned from Goosehead Insurance after posting videos during the riot, The Houston Chronicle reported. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. His termination was in no way connected to his activities on that date, the districts attorneys John E. Freund, III, and Brian J. Taylor said in a statement. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I dont give a flying shit about those babies and I will gladly smash into a school bus, Carr wrote. "Never within a mile of that place. Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court added the question of whether an employees speech impairs the ability of an agency to perform its duties by damaging the publics trust. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He told the school board Thursday night he went to Washington to hear some speeches, but I was never a part of any violence. It is also mindful that as teachers, they must exercise discretion in how they exercise those rights so as to preserve their credibility as educators of young people.. The chaos in Washington D.C. added to the "confusion and uncertainty" that students are facing during the pandemic, Parker wrote. The Allentown School District has fired a teacher who was suspended after going to Washington, D.C. for the so-called Stop the Steal rally, which became a deadly He said he was never a part of the violence on Jan. 6, but that the school board painted him as an active participant in the riots., When the district finally admitted to me privately that I had done nothing wrong and that I could return, they refused to let the community know that I am safe, to alleviate both their fears and my fears about returning, he said. Why First Republic failed. 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Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Allentown School District has fired a teacher who was suspended after going to Washington, D.C. for the so-called Stop the Steal rally, which became a deadly insurrectionist riot that took over the capitol building. Chicagoreal estate agent, Libby Andrews, was also fired after posting on social media from the Capitol, her former employer announced. Malofiy said he believes district officials reacted rashly to the outcry over Mooreheads social media posts from the Trump rally and said his client has been made a victim of cancel culture, in which people are penalized for their political beliefs. We walked around the Washington Monument, tried to get closer to the White House, ate a hot dog and then went back to the bus.. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. The court said public employees may be fired for speech that is not public in nature. They could face penalties ranging from fines to prison time. Suspended Allentown teacher Michael C. Davis, accused of spanking an entire class and slapping a student and his mother, wont get his job back. Moorehead has said he went to be a witness to a historic day and listen to then-President Donald Trump speak, and that he didnt know about the deadly riot until much later. The Allentown school board voted unanimously Thursday night to fire a Raub Middle School teacher who was suspended after posting pictures of himself on social Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). "You can have your job back. Moorehead, a social studies teacher at Raub for 17 years, posted pictures of himself at Trumps Stop the Steal rally blocks from the White House grounds. Not naming Moorehead explicitly, Freund said the teachers temporary reassignment is being treated the same as any other teacher whose conduct has been called into question. Mostly cloudy, brisk, and unseasonably cool with a few scattered showers. After the districts investigation was complete, he was given the opportunity to return to work, but would have been reassigned, Freund said. Not everyone there is a rioter.. Careless words have cost at least one teacher her job locally. A Chicago real estate firm fired one of its agents after she posted a selfie to social media and made reference to storming the capitol, but the agent, Libby Andrews, told the Chicago Tribune that she had been unaware anything illegal was happening and never entered the building. The districts determination will come down to the delicate balance between an employees First Amendment rights and the schools judgment about what it considers acceptable behavior. That the initial statement from Allentown Superintendent Thomas Parker placed the staff member directly at the United States Capitol Building, and that the district has not corrected this association, amounts to grounds for a defamation lawsuit, Malofiy argued. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the The school board fired Pickering, saying that his letter was rife with inaccuracies and its publication was detrimental to the school district. He has never been charged with a crime. I am none of those things, Moorehead said Thursday. They were emboldened by President Donald Trump, who urged them to head to Capitol during a rally near the White House. . A letter from the Allentown superintendent over the unidentified teacher reminded educators to be careful what they post and share online because of how it could affect their students and colleagues. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? The intrusion prompted lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence to flee for safety. Other people reportedly have lost their jobs because of their involvement in the riot. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Social media footage of thechaosshowedthe pro-Trump mob toppling barricades, scaling the building and smashing windows. The district cited social media postings from Moorehead in its initial decision to suspend him with pay and open an investigation into his actions that day. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the
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