A veteran teacher and two-time "Teacher of the Year" in a Los Angeles County School District, was placed on administrative leave after opposing district policies on transgenderism at a school board meeting.

Ray Shelton has been a fifth grade teacher at the Mark Keppel Elementary School in Glendale, California for the last 25 years. He has been named the school district’s “Teacher of the Year” twice and earlier this year won the PTA’s Golden Oak Award.

In April 2023, Ray attended a school board meeting where he opposed district policies that promote transgenderism and allow the secret transitioning children behind their parents’ backs. The next morning, Ray was pulled from his class and placed on administrative leave with a letter stating he was under investigation for unspecified “misconduct.”

Advocates is joining the Pivtorak Law Firm in defending Mr. Shelton's Constitutional right to free speech.

Press Release

ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024

CONTACT: Nicole Velasco at
media@faith-freedom.COM

Federal Judge Denies School District’s Motion to Dismiss Teacher’s First Amendment Retaliation Case

For Immediate Release, Los Angeles, CA - On Friday, in a significant win for free speech rights within the public education system, a federal judge has denied the Glendale Unified School District’s (GUSD) motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Ray Shelton, a fifth-grade teacher at Mark Keppel Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School. Mr. Shelton’s lawsuit, which challenges alleged retaliation by GUSD officials following his public criticism of district policies, will proceed in federal court.

The court’s decision underscores the importance of First Amendment protections for educators, particularly their right to speak freely on public matters without fear of reprisal. Mr. Shelton, a teacher with years of service to GUSD, filed suit after being placed on administrative leave and barred from campus following his comments at a school board meeting. At the meeting, he expressed concerns about new district policies, which he argued undermined parental rights and posed potential safety risks.

“This ruling sends a strong message that no educator should be defamed for expressing an opinion that challenges the woke narrative,” said Advocates attorney, Kelly Chang Rickert. “Our clients have a right to openly discuss policies that affect students, families, and communities. We look forward to demonstrating that educators, like all Americans, deserve the right to speak their beliefs without fear of retaliation.”

In her decision, U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall found that Mr. Shelton’s claims regarding free speech and retaliation were substantial enough to proceed to the next stages of litigation. Judge Marshall’s ruling rejects the district’s position that it acted within its rights, affirming instead that teachers’ First Amendment protections extend to matters of public concern discussed in public forums.

Represented by The Pivtorak Law Firm and Advocates for Faith and Freedom, Mr. Shelton’s lawsuit now advances with claims that include viewpoint discrimination and retaliation, citing the district’s alleged attempts to silence his dissenting voice through disciplinary action. In addition to seeking damages, Mr. Shelton requests that the court issue an injunction to prevent further retaliation and ensure district policies comply with constitutional standards.

The case, now set for discovery and pre-trial proceedings, is being closely watched by educators, civil rights advocates, and community leaders as it raises critical questions about the boundaries of free expression within the educational system.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.

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About Advocates for Faith & Freedom (www.faith-freedom.com): Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts.

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