The Allentown School District is facing a legal battle after it alleged a teacher took part in the Capitol riots of January 6th. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I met my wife there. His attorney Francis Malofiy said that despite a strongly worded letter to school administrators demanding an apology for the public statement placing Moorehead at the scene of the attempted insurrection, the school district has been silent. My reputation and character have been destroyed: Allentown Jason Moorehead said he was never at the Capitol when the violence erupted and only attended Trump's speech about a mile away. Allentown School Board gets earful about teacher placed on leave after attending Jan. 6 Capitol rally, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. We understand that many members of our community are upset by the image, the letter states. 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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. School operations at Kraemer Middle School were suspended for the day after an assistant principal apparently took his own life Monday morning in a private area 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. Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-820-6581 or peter.hall@mcall.com. Careless words have cost at least one teacher her job locally. Shame on you. 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. Dr. Rick Saccone, a former Pennsylvania state representative and adjunct professor, submitted his resignation to St. Vincent College after he posted a video from the Capitol, FOX 43 in York, Pa., reported. Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, FDIC recommends raising insured deposit limit for businesses, What the Tech? 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 Supreme Court is really looking at not just what the speech is, but the impact. Three others, including Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown Pennsylvania, died of apparent medical emergencies during the chaos. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. 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 Im shocked that this happened and Im scared about my future.. "We ask the same of our students and families.". How to make sure your tax refund, other mail doesn't get stolen, CA: LATINO SPIRIT AWARD HONOREES CELEBRATED, RAW: FILE: 11,000+ MEMBERS OF WRITERS GUILD TO GO ON STRIKE, Cher splits from rumoured fianc Alexander AE Edwards, Ed Sheeran tells how he was comforted by Stormzy the day Jamal Edwards died, Noel Gallagher splits with rumoured new girlfriend Dorothea Gundtoft, Katy Perry to be replaced by big time stars on American Idol while she performs at King Charles coronation, Anna Wintour appears to confirm rumoured romance with Bill Nighy at Met Gala, CT: RESTAURANT PREPS FOR KING'S CORONATION, RAW: NY: MET GALA RED CARPET ARRIVALS (MORE), American Idol Top 8 Decided in Twist After Judges Song Contest (RECAP). Does it make it more difficult for the school district to operate? said Hobie Webster, a Pittsburgh employment lawyer who represents school districts. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Moorehead said he was offered his job back under the condition he undergo racial sensitivity training. 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. Francis Malofiy represents Moorehead in his defamation suit against the district and alleges Moorehead was fired because of his support of the former president. Paul Lancaster Adams, a labor employment attorney, said some states have laws that protect or limit off-duty conduct. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania high school teacher has been charged with having sex with a minor female student he began tutoring earlier this year. Moorehead was suspended Jan. 7, 2021, and there were calls for his firing after he went to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully," the letter said. 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. Allentown Teacher Suspended For Being Near U.S. Capitol During Riots! President Donald Trump speaks at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on Jan. 6. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Legal Statement. A 2006 ruling in another case involving a prosecutor established that public employees are not protected when they speak in their official capacities. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Teacher Suspended After Jan. 6 Fired for Not Working. And did the speech affect the operation of the government agency? 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. You have permission to edit this article. Thousands of people are there, and only a few are doing the rioting and destruction. Suspended Allentown teacher claims he wasn't anywhere near 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? Moorehead said he was never at the Capitol when the violence erupted and only attended Trump's speech about a mile away. Pennsylvania teacher suspended after Jan. 6 riot fired for Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A lawyer representing the Allentown School District said he hasn't yet seen the lawsuit so he couldn't comment. "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. 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. 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. The court said public employees may be fired for speech that is not public in nature. The Allentown School District will conduct a formal investigation into the role that one of its teachers played in the U.S. Capitol riot. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created.. Instead theyre trying to figure out what to do now and its double down, dig in the heels.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The teacher was not identified, nor was the school where he works. Teacher suspended after Jan. 6 fired for not working. 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. District spokeswoman Melissa Reese referred questions to district solicitor John Freund III, who said the district is still conducting a full investigation of the teachers involvement and is unable to comment on details of the investigation, in the interest of proceeding in a professional and proper manner with all regards for the teachers rights.. said community member Enid Santiago. TEACHER The district said previously Moorehead's 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. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Allentown Middle School Teacher Suspended After Jan. The intrusion prompted lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence to flee for safety. The single word This, has become shorthand for expressing agreement with a quoted statement in many internet forums. He is currently under a paid suspension as Pennsylvania does not. Moorehead also doesn't dispute that he attended Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021. Friday morning, Freund said the investigation is not yet complete. He called the districts actions defamatory and said they have destroyed [his clients] life.. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. "I love working in that school. Moorehead says hes a victim of cancel culture and that his reputation has been destroyed by what he says is a false statement that he was involved in the violent protest. District officials have not disclosed whether the suspended teacher was among those who breached the Capitol building. I believe I was just terminated today by you nine, nine to zero, Moorehead said. I dont know how I can get that reputation back, Moorehead said in a telephone interview Saturday. Pa. teacher suspended after Jan. 6 fired for not working - ABC27 Moorehead said he had an impeccable record, and cared deeply for his students most of whom were minorities. I was never any closer than a mile from the riot that happened, which I didnt know about until much later. 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. Success! 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. Lawmakers gathered again Wednesday night and certifiedJoe Biden's victoryearly Thursday morning. ", First published on July 29, 2022 / 8:15 PM. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? Mostly cloudy, brisk, and unseasonably cool with a few scattered showers. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. 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. "This man is teaching history of all subjects to an 80% minority district, how is this even acceptable?" "It was singling me out that my mere presence at a political rally was somehow tied to racism," he said. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Jason Moorehead has been the center of controversy ever since Facebook posts of him in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 surfaced. 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? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. We as a community cannot accept nor tolerate this negative behavior., What is he doing wrong? another asked. Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. 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. When asked if he broke any laws, Moorehead was clear. HANNITY: CAPITOL RIOTING EXPOSED 'MASSIVE VULNERABILITY' IN SECURITY -- AND AMERICA'S ENEMIES TOOK NOTE. 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 Moorehead said the day after the January 6th riots, the Allentown School District suspended him and put out a press release that read in part that a staff member was "involved in the electoral college protests that took place at the United States Capitol Building.". Published: July 31, 2022. Later, he reposted someone elses tweet saying Dont worry everyone, the capitol is insured, adding This, to show his approval. Raub Middle School teacher Jason Mooreheads social media posts from the Jan. 6 rally for former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., began circulating in Allentown on the afternoon when the world watched in horror as protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The Social Studies teachers controversial social media posts had drastic consequences. 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. 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. Pa. Teacher Suspended After Jan. 6 Fired for Not Working - US 0:45 One day after the deadly insurrection in Washington, a Pennsylvania school district announced it was suspending a teacher who, the district asserted, was Im being fired for refusing to come to a place that is unsafe, a situation you guys created., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Period.. He maintains his trip to Washington to hear the former president speak was nothing more and denied involvement in the siege. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania teacher who was suspended last year during an investigation into his attendance at, and social media posts about, the In 1964, Illinois school teacher Marvin Pickering wrote a letter to his local newspaper critical of the administrations spending on instruction and athletics. App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? 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. No, period, he said. Moorehead claims the district called him an active participant in the riots, but that they they knew he was never part of it. The court ruled that the questionnaire disrupted the office and dealt with office politics and not matters of public concern. 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. 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. 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. Can my school conduct a random Error! Freund wrote on Jan. 25, the reaction fomented by your clients photographs and postings (on social media on Jan. 6) was formidable, making temporary reassignment entirely justifiable.. Allentown School District said in a letter Jan. 8 that it was investigating the teachers presence at the event but did not name him or the school where he worked. Participation in the demonstrations on Jan. 6 has brought professional consequences for some, mostly limited to those who stormed the Capitol building. We walked around the Washington Monument, tried to get close to the White House, ate a hot dog and went back to the bus, he told CNN. student to be charged following teacher's fall Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. All rights reserved. Allentown Teacher's 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. He has never been charged with a crime. Know Your Rights: Searches of Students | ACLU of Northern CA Over the past half-century, the Supreme Court has issued four major decisions defining the limits of public employees First Amendment rights. 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. I dont know how I can get that trust back. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Have a news tip? 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..
