allentown teacher suspended

Because of the emotion and controversy stirred by the events of January 6, 2021, the teacher has been temporarily relieved of his teaching duties until the school district can complete a formal investigation of his involvement, the district said in a letter on Jan. 8. We talk about diversity of people but we have forgotten about diversity of speech and opinion, Malofiy said. The termination came because of the abandonment of his position, the solicitor said. 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. Malofiy said he was only offered his position back with that caveat. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Moorehead was officially reinstated in July 2021, after the investigation found he had violated the district's social media policies, but not its outside activities policy. Period," he said. Does it make it more difficult for the school district to operate? said Hobie Webster, a Pittsburgh employment lawyer who represents school districts. Jason Moorehead said Saturday his reputation has been destroyed and his family is fearful because of the backlash from the districts statement that he says incorrectly connected him with the violent uprising at the U.S. Capitol. I met my wife there. 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. In 1977, the court ruled that the First and 14th Amendments do not provide blanket protection in the case of a teacher who had argued with co-workers and cursed at students. District officials have not disclosed whether the suspended teacher was among those who breached the Capitol building. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Legal Statement. Mr. 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. "We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image," the letter said. In one, he stood before a sea of Trump banners wearing a Make America Great Again hat and carrying a Revolutionary War flag. 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.. Moorehead said he was offered his job back under the condition he undergo racial sensitivity training. Ive had thousands of great relationships with students and parents.. 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. I dont know how I can get that reputation back, Moorehead said in a telephone interview Saturday. Wisconsin Legislators to Consider Opioid Settlement Payout. "I have some conservative values," 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. "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. WebA student at Dieruff High School in Allentown who had been suspended will now face charges in connection with a teacher's fall from the gym's bleachers last week. A Bucks County teacher who called her students utterly loathsome and frightfully dim in her online blog lost her appeal to the First Amendment after her district fired her. He is currently under a paid suspension as Teacher suspended after Jan. 6 fired for not working. When asked if he broke any laws, Moorehead was clear. James Harden Dominates, Sixers Stun Celtics to Take 1-0 Series Lead, 7 Cars Involved in Crash, House Catches Fire in North Philly, Police ID 2 Persons of Interest in Triple Homicidein Philadelphia, This 28-Year-Old Pays $62 a Month to Live in a Dumpster He Built for $5,000 Take a Look Inside. Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. My best friends are there. The Allentown School District will conduct a formal investigation into the role that one of its teachers played in the U.S. Capitol riot. "Never within a mile of that place. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown Libby Andrews, a Chicago-based real estate agent, was fired after her social media posts about storming the Capitol were identified by several people and sent to her employer. "In less than a week we accrued more than 600 signatures that I can gladly send over to the school board," said community member Pas Simpson. ii Even if your school has a gendered dress ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- The Allentown School District is facing a legal battle after it alleged a teacher took part in the Capitol riots of January 6th. 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. Asked what he was trying to convey with the posts, Moorehead said during a CNN interview on Jan. 23 that he was not mocking Black Lives Matter or antifa. He failed to return. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He said the false association with the deadly storming of the Capitol has forced him to delete his social media accounts, avoid answering the phone and keep curtains drawn at his house. Legal Statement. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Moorehead was suspended Jan. 7, 2021, and there were calls for his firing after he went to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. Pennsylvania middle school teacher rightfully suspended over possible involvement in Capitol riots March 22, 2021 by Kavita Sundaram Photo by BBC Protesters break into and riot at the capitol. WebA Pennsylvania teacher was suspended this week after taking part in Wednesdays riot at the U.S. Capitol, pending an investigation, the Allentown School District said, according . The Allentown School District has 22 schools and more than 16,000 students enrolled, according to theFuture Ready PA Index. WebThe Allentown Police Department will host the city's first Youth Academy as part of its ongoing plans to increase outreach into the Allentown School District. 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 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. Moorehead says he was never closer than a mile away from the Capitol building that day and didnt realize the violence that occurred until after he had left. Friday morning, Freund said the investigation is not yet complete. A retired firefighter from Chester County is charged with assaulting officers after authorities say he hurled a fire extinguisher at police. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Seventy people had been arrested as of Thursday night, including 13 Pennsylvania residents. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Moorehead never returned to work and he indicated he had no intention of returning, Freund told lehighvalleylive.com. 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. Ive always encouraged my kids to be critical thinkers and to form their own opinion, one that they can be proud to have., His attorney Malofiy blasted the districts decision to suspend Moorehead and issue the statement without first gathering more information about what really happened. When the investigation was complete Mr. Moorehead was invited to return to teaching. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Careless words have cost at least one teacher her job locally. 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. Why First Republic failed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. My client has been very very patient in hoping that the school district would do the right thing and at this point, it seems inevitable that we will be filing a lawsuit, Malofiy said. ALLENTOWN 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. Moorehead, a social studies teacher at Raub Middle School in the Allentown School District, has gained national attention. 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. 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. Pennsylvania does not. Schools cannot discriminate against you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created.. Speaking to the board Thursday, Moorehead said the board fed the community lies. "We believe that all individuals have the right to an opinion, but when beliefs and opinions devolve into illegal and violent activities, there will be no tolerance," the college said in a statement. Rachel Carr was fired from her job as a driver for PennDOT after she posted in a local Facebook group about her frustration with school bus drivers in the area after one pulled out in front of her truck. 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? Moorehead called the violence at the Capitol Building disgusting and is steadfast on the fact that he was on a bus to head home when the Capitol Building was stormed. A woman was fatally shot during Wednesdays riot, a Capitol Police officer later died of injuries suffered in the unrest and three others died of medical emergencies, police said. He also claimed the board colluded with community groups to attack his character, being called a racist and a white supremacist. 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. Thus, Zirkel said, courts use a three-part test to determine if a public employee is protected by the First Amendment: Was the expression part of the employees duties, or was it as a private citizen? The court said that the importance of an employees statements on an issue of public importance must be balanced against any harm they cause the agency. "Is this the kind of person that we want in our school district spending time with our children and influencing minds and hearts?" The only problem? Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created.. We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image, the letter states. Hannah Kanik 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. "And there's so many issues that matter to me on both sides," he added. "After numerous complaints the school district conducted an investigation of the extent of Mr. Moorehead's involvement in the events of January 6th. Partly to mostly cloudy, brisk, and cool. "This man is teaching history of all subjects to an 80% minority district, how is this even acceptable?" The district would reasonably enforce a policy of suspensions and expulsions for willful defiance and other misconduct, not because its best for the person being Moorehead said he had an impeccable record, and cared deeply for his students most of whom were minorities. The Supreme Court is really looking at not just what the speech is, but the impact. He took a few photos showing he was there. 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. Chicagoreal estate agent, Libby Andrews, was also fired after posting on social media from the Capitol, her former employer announced. No, period, he said. District Solicitor John Freund told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday that Moorehead was initially suspended. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.. Paul Davis, a Dallas-area lawyer, was fired from Goosehead Insurance after a Twitter user brought Davis's Instagram posts at the Capitol to light. The attorney for an Allentown School District teacher suspended after school officials learned hed been in Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 6 protests said the districts failure to correct a false statement in its news release means a lawsuit is all but inevitable. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the I dont know how I can get that trust back. Moorehead said that while he attended a rally for then-President Donald Trump in Washington that day, he was never closer than a mile from the Capitol building. The unnamed educator was among a number of people who have reportedly been fired or asked to resign from jobs after being identified as a Capitol rioter, The Morning Call in Allentown reported. Some calling in were passionate that the district was in the wrong. 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. Have a news tip? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. There was an error processing your request. You dont know about the 18 years I spent of giving my life to this Raub community. 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. The Allentown School District called the allegations false. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Mostly cloudy, brisk, and unseasonably cool with a few scattered showers. Follow Hannah & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @hannah_kanik | @thePhillyVoice "While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully," the letter said. Allentown Teacher Suspended For Being Near U.S. Capitol During Riots! I dont give a flying shit about those babies and I will gladly smash into a school bus, Carr wrote. App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? ", Speaking to the board Thursday, Moorehead said the board fed the community lies. Not everyone there is a rioter.. For example, a teacher cannot ask to search a bag that looks weird and bulgy for drugs based only on the look of the bag. Im shocked that this happened and Im scared about my future.. All Rights Reserved. ", First published on July 29, 2022 / 8:15 PM. Pro-Trump mob breaches U.S. Capitol as lawmakers prepare to affirm Joe Biden's victory, Pa. Congresswoman details 'frightening' evacuation scene at U.S. Capitol, An 'orderly transition' will occur, Trump says after Congress ratifies Biden's win, SEPTA to close 10 subway stations for upcoming weekend cleanings, General Mills recalls Gold Medal flour due to salmonella contamination, 'Breaking Bad' stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul appear on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' set, NFL rumors: Eagles-Giants is the 'leader' to be first Black Friday game, Breast cancer screenings for Black women should begin earlier, study finds, Bryce Harper could return to Phillies' lineup on Tuesday. Success! 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. The FBI has arrested more than 100 associated with the siege so far, and many companies have taken to Twitter to confirm the firing of their involved employees. Malofiy said that after a seven-month investigation in conjunction with FBI, the district sent his client a letter that stated his presence at the rally did not violate school policy. He and his lawyer speak with CNN's Michael Smerconish. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. He also wrote a comment that read "wrong on so many levels, but hilarious" on another controversial meme. Moorehead, a social studies teacher at Raub Middle School in the Allentown School District, has gained national attention. He has never been charged with a crime. (Associated Press). He maintains his trip to Washington to hear the former president speak was nothing more and denied involvement in the siege. District officials have not disclosed whether the suspended teacher was among those who breached the Capitol building. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. 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. Moorehead said teaching in the school district is the only job he has ever had, and he considers himself more than a teacher, leading clubs and coaching sports. or redistributed. 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.

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allentown teacher suspended

allentown teacher suspended