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 Federal officials have been charging and arresting people in Pennsylvania and around the country for their alleged roles in breaching the building, damaging or stealing property inside and attacking law enforcement. Moorehead said he longs to be back in the classroom. The Allentown School District is facing a legal battle after it alleged a teacher took part in the Capitol riots of January 6th. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Period," he said. The teacher has been relieved of his duties until the investigation plays out, Superintendent Thomas Parker wrotein a letterThursday evening. An armed standoff played out in front of the House chamber. The district suspended Moorehead for six months, then ordered him to return to work. 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 on Jan. 6 in Washington is being fired for refusing to return to work. 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. Doing my civic duty, he commented. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Can my school conduct a random "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. We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image, the letter states. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 The Associated Press. "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. FOX News contributors Dan Bongino and Sarah Sanders react to the day's events on 'Hannity'. 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. 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. He failed to return. Supporters of President Donald Trump on the National Mall. Paul Lancaster Adams, a labor employment attorney, said some states have laws that protect or limit off-duty conduct. He appealed under the First and 14th Amendments and was reinstated when the Supreme Court ruled the inaccuracies in the letter were not malicious and did not interfere with the districts operations. Morning Call reporter Sarah M. Wojcik can be reached at 610-778-2283 or swojcik@mcall.com. Perry Zirkel, a retired Lehigh University professor and expert in education law, said a school district would be unable to justify terminating a teacher on the basis of endorsing a political candidate, even one as controversial as Trump, who is facing impeachment for a second time for inciting his followers to storm the Capitol. 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). Malofiy said he was only offered his position back with that caveat. The uproar was enough for Allentown School District to suspend him with pay while it investigated his involvement in the days events. 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. 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. On negative responses to his social media posts, Moorehead said he does believe that joining thousands to listen to the former president speak and form his own opinions is a civic duty. They were emboldened by President Donald Trump, who urged them to head to Capitol during a rally near the White House. 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. Andrews told the Chicago Tribunethat she didn't know illegal actions were taking place. The after-school programs Ive done, the amount of summer school activities Ive done, the sports Ive done. 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. Pa. Please enter valid email address to continue. Spokesman Chris Lilienthal of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, of which the Allentown Education Association is a member, declined to comment. 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. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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 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. An employee at Navistar Direct Marketing, a printing company based in Maryland, was fired Thursday after a picture of him inside the Capitol wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia and his work badge went viral, the Washington Post reported. 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. The district is mindful that teachers do not lose their [constitutional] rights because they are teachers, wrote Freund, the solicitor. A retired firefighter from Chester County is charged with assaulting officers after authorities say he hurled a fire extinguisher at police. "At the same time, the district has an obligation to respect the First Amendment rights of our staff and students.". said Christine Condon, who also participated in the meeting. "His termination was in no way connected to his activities on that date," the district's attorneys John E. Freund, III, and Brian J. Taylor said in a statement. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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I definitely have some conservative values and beliefs, but they have never taken part in what I do in the classroom, Moorehead said. I dont know how I can get that trust back. 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 told Smerconish. 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 district will not make any premature statements about any conclusions reached until the investigation is complete, and cannot allow the media attention available to the teacher to usurp the districts process, he said via email. 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. Thousands of people are there, and only a few are doing the rioting and destruction. ", First published on July 29, 2022 / 8:15 PM. And the rest are too afraid to stand up and do whats right, Moorehead said Thursday night. Speaking to the board Thursday, Moorehead said the board fed the community lies. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created.. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown 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. 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. 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. Error! This 13-year-old is headed to medical school a year after - Partly to mostly cloudy, brisk, and cool. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He is currently under a paid suspension as Because Carrs rant was of limited public importance but harmed the publics trust in PennDOTs ability to safely serve the public, her speech was not protected, the court ruled. Moorehead never returned to work and he indicated he had no intention of returning, Freund told lehighvalleylive.com. He urged staffers to "think carefully" about the information they share online, noting it could affect students and community members. "Because he's a white Christian, conservative male, they politically assassinated him and destroyed his career," he said. 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. 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. Superintendent Thomas Parker and school district solicitor John Freund did not respond to repeated phone calls Saturday. District officials have not disclosed whether the suspended teacher was among those who breached the Capitol building. State finances are in pretty good shape but that could change depending on the trajectory of the national economy. Morning Call reporter Kayla Dwyer can be reached at 610-820-6554 or kdwyer@mcall.com. Legal Statement. Some calling in were passionate that the district was in the wrong. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Jason Moorehead has been the center of controversy ever since Facebook posts of him in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 surfaced. I never wanted to leave, Moorehead said. 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? 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 notoriety has also cost him the trust and respect of students. The uproar was enough for Allentown School District to suspend him with pay while it investigated his involvement in the days events. "And there's so many issues that matter to me on both sides," he added. Except I went to see a Trump rally.". 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. In 1964, Illinois school teacher Marvin Pickering wrote a letter to his local newspaper critical of the administrations spending on instruction and athletics. Joseph Fling Jr., 77, of Hatboro, is accused of careless driving and failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, in the Sept. 6 death of Angela Yowakim, the outlet reported All rights reserved (About Us). Schools cannot discriminate against you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The best states in the country excel in areas such as economy, fiscal stability and opportunity. 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. Mr. Mostly cloudy, brisk, and unseasonably cool with a few scattered showers. Market data provided by Factset. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. Moorehead, a social studies teacher at Raub Middle School in the Allentown School District, has gained national attention. 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. Capitol rioting: Trump, McEnany condemn storming of Congress. The First Amendment allows people to personally and privately engage in disagreements with their government, said Francis Malofiy. 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 ofits probe last year. My best friends are there. The proper thing would be a full apology, Malofiy said. He took a few photos showing he was there. He also wrote a comment that read "wrong on so many levels, but hilarious" on another controversial meme. 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. A mob of pro-Trump extremistsstormed the CapitolWednesday in an attempt todisrupt Congress from certifying the Electoral College results. 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. Follow Hannah & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @hannah_kanik | @thePhillyVoice All rights reserved. Even though district officials have spoken with Moorehead to hear his side of the story, they have done nothing to clear his name. ii Even if your school has a gendered dress In one, he stood before a sea of Trump banners wearing a Make America Great Again hat and carrying a Revolutionary War flag. 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. "After numerous complaints the school district conducted an investigation of the extent of Mr. Moorehead's involvement in the events of January 6th. Three others, including Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown Pennsylvania, died of apparent medical emergencies during the chaos. Allentown School District board of school directors voted Thursday to fire Jason Moorehead, who was a middle school social studies teacher at the Allentown All rights reserved. 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. Are other banks to follow? 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. Moorehead claims the district called him an active participant in the riots, but that they they knew he was never part of it. In a few cases, protesters have lost jobs even if they did not take part in the violent rioting. District Solicitor John Freund told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday that Moorehead was initially suspended. Other people reportedly have lost their jobs because of their involvement in the riot. We talk about diversity of people but we have forgotten about diversity of speech and opinion, Malofiy said. (Associated Press). I love the kids and great relationships with kids there," he said. 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 Morning Call reported. 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. All rights reserved. Ive been bullied and I dont want my family, my co-workers, my students to feel they shouldnt defend their First Amendment protections.. No," he said. I am none of those things, Moorehead said Thursday. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. ALLENTOWN A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the Stop I dont give a flying shit about those babies and I will gladly smash into a school bus, Carr wrote. Jason Moorehead said he was never at the Capitol when the violence erupted and only attended Trump's speech about a mile away. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - An Allentown middle school teacher who was placed on leave after attending a Trump rally in Washington D.C. on January 6 is n. 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. The reaction fell on both sides, some saying it was his First Amendment right to attend a rally, others saying being a teacher usurped that right. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Chicagoreal estate agent, Libby Andrews, was also fired after posting on social media from the Capitol, her former employer announced. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. You have permission to edit this article. 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. When asked if he broke any laws, Moorehead was clear. Its a shame that most of you dont even know who I am. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice If it turns out that while he was down there he was one of these guys running around without a shirt on putting his feet up on peoples desks, we would have a very different case.. said community member Enid Santiago. Moorehead was suspended Jan. 7, 2021, and there were calls for his firing after he went to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Why First Republic failed. WebA Lehigh Valley teacher says he was suspended for being in Washington, D.C., on the day of the Capitol riot. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Teacher Suspended After Jan. 6 Fired for Not Working. The Social Studies teachers controversial social media posts had drastic consequences. First Amendment scholars weigh in, Few leads, false alarms as search for Texas gunman drags on, Serena Williams reveals second pregnancy at Met Gala, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes crashes on Illinois highway, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, a victim of cancel culture and that his reputation has been destroyed, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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 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. You dont know about the 18 years I spent of giving my life to this Raub community. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The school board's legal council says the investigation is still ongoing. 2976 days ago By Until the district completes the investigation and makes a decision on his status, the teacher is still receiving pay and benefits. Moorehead said he was never at the Capitol when the violence erupted and only attended Trump's speech about a mile away. Former Pennsylvania state representative Rick Saccone also referenced storming the capitol in a social media post that day, but told the Tribune-Review he didnt mean it literally and only went to Washington to peacefully protest and express grievances about the way the election was handled. He resigned from his position at Saint Vincent College that week, saying he didnt want all this terrible media kerfuffle to tarnish the school.. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. 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. ", Bride killed in Folly Beach golf cart DUI crash, ESPN: Harper to return to lineup 159 days after Tommy John surgery, New details released about suspects charged in Evesham Township crash. "While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully," Parker wrote. It gives people in the United States the right to speak their minds, worship, gather and support the political candidates of their choice without fear of being silenced or punished by the government. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created.. The Allentown School District will conduct a formal investigation into the role that one of its teachers played in the U.S. Capitol riot. A 2006 ruling in another case involving a prosecutor established that public employees are not protected when they speak in their official capacities. He also claimed the board colluded with community groups to attack his character, being called a racist and a white supremacist. In 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that former Central Bucks High School East teacher Natalie Monroes comments caused enough of a disruption in the classroom and her ability to perform her job because numerous parents told the district they didnt want her to teach their children that it outweighed her First Amendment claim. 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. Have a news tip? 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. 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. Wisconsin Legislators to Consider Opioid Settlement Payout. You destroyed my career, my character, my life, my marriage, I might lose my house -- all because some of you did not like my political conservative views. There was a problem saving your notification. Feb 3, 2021 Jason Moorehead, an Allentown teacher, is requesting a apology from the Allentown school district. The teacher was not identified, nor was the school where he works. Market data provided by Factset. The freedoms ensconced in the First Amendment are among the most celebrated in the U.S. Constitution. Moorehead also doesn't dispute that he attended Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021. Over the past half-century, the Supreme Court has issued four major decisions defining the limits of public employees First Amendment rights. Parker and School Board President Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters. Seventy people had been arrested as of Thursday night, including 13 Pennsylvania residents. I was never any closer than a mile from the riot that happened, which I didnt know about until much later. 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. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. 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. "I love working in that school. 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