Georgia Board upholds firing of Cobb County teacher over children’s book

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia School Board of Education has upheld the firing of Katie Rinderle, a former elementary teacher who read a book on gender fluidity to her fifth-grade class.

In a meeting on Thursday, the state board unanimously upheld Rinderle’s termination by the Cobb County School Board without any discussion. Rinderle made headlines when the school board voted 4-3 to fire her in August 2023 for reading “My Shadow is Purple,” to her class at Due West Elementary School. The picture book, written by Scott Stuart, discusses gender fluidity.

Rinderle’s Background

Rinderle had been a teacher for 10 years when she got into trouble in March for reading the picture book “My Shadow Is Purple” by Scott Stuart at Due West Elementary School, after which some parents complained. During her termination hearing, school district lawyer Sherry Culves said discussing gender identity and gender fluidity was inappropriate.

The Cobb County’s board decision overrode the recommendation of a panel of three retired educators. The panel found after a two-day hearing that Rinderle had violated district policies but said she should not be fired.

Reaction to the Decision

The President of Cobb County Association of Educators, Jeff Hubbard, says the language of the law is vague and teachers don’t know what they can safely say in the classroom. “You’ve had huge dialing back of what is taught and how it is taught. The most frightening part of this is that we are taking away the teacher’s ability to allow for critical thinking and allow for creative thinking from students,” said Hubbard.

Rinderle has 30 days to decide if she wants to appeal the State Board of Education’s decision to the Cobb County Superior Court. As part of that federal lawsuit, Rinderle is asking the federal court to reverse the decision of the Cobb School Board, and now the State School Board of Education, so she can get her job back. Rinderle is believed to be the first public school teacher in Georgia to be fired because of the laws.

Related Lawsuit

Two Cobb County educators have filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, alleging sex discrimination and wrongful termination. Rinderle and Tonya Grimmke, a current teacher in the Cobb County School System, filed a federal lawsuit against the district earlier in February, arguing that the policy on “controversial issues” is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment. Rinderle is seeking damages and her job back.

Conclusion

The decision to uphold the firing of Katie Rinderle over the children’s book controversy in Cobb County has sparked debate and legal action. The implications of this case on education, freedom of speech, and teacher-student dynamics continue to be a topic of discussion both locally and nationally.