Massachusetts teacher fired over video of TikTok school board campaign on CRT files federal lawsuit | News Today

A Massachusetts teacher who was fired for her TikTok posts challenging critical race and transgender theory is now suing the school principal and district superintendent.

Kari MacRae was fired from her teaching job at Hanover High School on September 29 following an internal investigation into six memes and two TikTok videos, at least one of which she posted as part of her then campaign. that she was running as a candidate for the Bourne school committee. .

MacRae was elected and sworn in as a member of the school board on May 19. In a May 18 video released on election day, she filmed herself filling out the ballot for her name and then back in her car, as she discussed her decision to run for elected office of the school board.

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“So the reason I ran for school board and the reason I take on this responsibility is to make sure that the students, at least in our city, do not learn critical race theory,” MacRae said. “They are not taught that the country was built on racism. So, they are not taught that they can choose whether or not they want to be a girl or a boy. It is something to include and c It’s one thing to be inclusive. And it’s one thing to educate everyone about everything. It’s another thing to move your agenda forward. And, with me at the school board, that won’t happen in our city. ”

The video was released before MacRae was hired as a math and business teacher at Hanover High School on August 31. Ever since the videos and memes surfaced, Bourne’s school union has called for her resignation from the committee – even after her dismissal as a teacher. in Hanover.

Judicial Watch, a conservative free speech activist group, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in Massachusetts U.S. District Court on Monday’s behalf on MacRae’s behalf. He seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as payment of legal fees, from Hanover High School Principal Matthew Mattos and Hanover Public School Superintendent Matthew A. Ferron.

The lawsuit claims that none of MacRae’s posts identified her as a Hanover public school teacher or employee, and she explained to Mattos in a September 24 meeting that “she posted the memes and videos on a personal basis as a citizen and candidate for public office. ”

Additionally, MacRae’s social media posts “did not cause any disruption in the classroom,” and Mattos did not notify her of any disruption, the file said. “No parent or student at Hanover High School has raised concerns about the Applicant’s employment at Hanover High School due to social media posts,” the lawsuit alleges. “The defendant Mattos also failed to inform the plaintiff of the concerns raised.”

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Ferron reviewed and approved Mattos’ decision to fire MacRae, according to the lawsuit.

In his September 29 termination letter, Mattos wrote: “I have determined that continuing your employment in light of your social media posts would have a significant impact on student learning at HHS.”

“I was fired specifically for a post I posted on social media,” MacRae told the Cape Cod Times on Oct. 13. “It is a violation of freedom of expression.”

Hanover Public Schools referenced a law in the state of Massachusetts that allows school districts to fire teachers during their first 90 days of employment, with or without cause.

“The defendants, acting under the guise of Massachusetts law, deprived the plaintiff of her rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution when they dismissed the plaintiff for exercising her right to freedom of expression. “Says Judicial Watch lawyer Michael Bekesha. “The Complainant suffered loss of earnings, emotional distress, loss of reputation and harassment as a result of his termination by Director Mattos and Superintendent Ferron.”

Fox News Digital has contacted MacRae, Mattos and Ferron for comment.

In a statement obtained by the Boston Herald, Ferron said, “The Hanover Public School District understands and respects the First Amendment rights of all employees.”

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“That being said,” added the Superintendent, “if a teacher communicates publicly with the community in a way that can negatively impact our ability to provide a positive and distraction-free learning environment for our students and staff , it is important that school districts have the opportunity to exercise their 90-day termination option under Massachusetts law. ”

MacRae, who has served on the school board for six months, announced in late November that she would also run as a Republican for the Massachusetts State Senate in 2022, Cape News reported.