An Ohio teacher wins a $450,000 settlement after resigning over a pronoun policy, sparking debate on First Amendment rights in schools.
At a Glance
- Vivian Geraghty, an Ohio teacher, receives $450,000 settlement from Jackson Local School District
- Geraghty resigned after refusing to use students’ preferred pronouns due to religious beliefs
- U.S. District Court ruled the school’s pronoun policy unconstitutional and biased
- Case highlights ongoing national debate on individual rights and educational directives
Teacher’s Religious Convictions Clash with School Policy
Vivian Geraghty, a former English teacher at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon, Ohio, has emerged victorious in a legal battle against the Jackson Local School District. The dispute arose when Geraghty, citing her religious beliefs, refused to participate in the “social transition” of two students who requested she use pronouns and names inconsistent with their biological sex.
When Geraghty attempted to find a solution with the school administration, she was told to set aside her beliefs. Faced with this ultimatum, the teacher chose to resign from her position. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing Geraghty, filed a lawsuit against the school district in December 2022, arguing that the district had violated her freedom of speech and religious liberty.
$450,000 settlement for Ohio teacher who refused to use students' pronouns https://t.co/xwm2QZSJTN
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Court Ruling and Settlement
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sided with Geraghty, ruling that forcing her to use preferred names was “compelled speech” and not neutral. This decision underscored the importance of protecting First Amendment rights within educational settings. On December 18, the ADF announced a $450,000 settlement in Geraghty’s favor, marking a significant victory for advocates of religious freedom and free speech in schools.
“No school official can force a teacher to set her religious beliefs aside in order to keep her job,” ADF Legal Counsel Logan Spena said.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Debate
This case is not isolated. It follows a similar ADF victory in Virginia, where another teacher received over half a million dollars for a related issue. These outcomes signal a growing trend of legal challenges to school policies that some educators feel infringe upon their personal beliefs and constitutional rights.
The Jackson Local School District, while facing this legal setback, maintained that it does not have a specific policy requiring the use of preferred names or pronouns. However, the district stated it follows Title IX guidelines against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
