OUR MISSION
The purpose of TEACHERS DON’T LIE is to support teachers of faith who are feeling the weight of the darkness that has infiltrated the education system. We believe teachers of faith have the right to be in the public education system without sacrificing their convictions and the truth. We aim to provide educators with a thorough understanding of their constitutional rights, as well as give options on how to respond to their school district when being asked to go against their sincerely held religious beliefs. We have a legal team who has successfully fought lawsuits for teachers of faith and school board members that is ready to support the next educator who chooses to take a necessary, but consequential stand.
Teachers’ Rights
Across the nation, school districts are compelling teachers to abandon their religious convictions at the "schoolhouse gate," pressuring them to misrepresent students' gender identities to both students and parents, and to deny their own faith. Yet, teachers stand by this truth: TEACHERS DON’T LIE.
Stop The Lies
Teachers DON’T lie to students.
Teachers DON’T lie to parents.
Teachers DON’T lie to themselves.
TEACHERS DON’T LIE.
Support The Mission
Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a pro bono law firm, recently secured a significant settlement for teacher Jessica Tapia in a legal battle over school transgender policies. As we gear up to support more educators, we rely on the generosity of donors like you. Your support enables us to offer legal services for free and uphold truth in education. Consider making a donation today to help fund future victories.
The Inspiration - Jessica Tapia
After returning to her alma mater as a dedicated physical education teacher, Ms. Tapia faced a challenging conflict between her beliefs and the policies of Jurupa Valley High School, leading to a lawsuit and a contentious settlement battle. When the school district issued directives that clashed with her beliefs—including handling gender identity issues and suppressing her religious expression—Ms. Tapia took a stand to not lie, resulting in her termination and a subsequent lawsuit that ended in a significant financial settlement. This gripping story explores the intersection of faith, freedom of speech, and the rights of educators in the complex environment of public schools.
Join The Fight
School districts across the United States are forcing teachers to leave their religious beliefs at the “schoolhouse gate.” As a result, teachers are being forced to lie to students about their gender identity, to lie to parents about their children’s gender identity, and to lie to themselves regarding their religious convictions. But TEACHERS DON’T LIE.
After fighting a yearlong legal battle alongside public-school teacher, Jessica Tapia, against her school district’s transgender directives and securing a multi-six figure monetary settlement, Advocates for Faith & Freedom, is gearing up to help more teachers stand up for truth. Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a pro bono law firm which means we provide our legal services for free. We rely on the generous support of donors who believe in the mission of Advocates for Faith & Freedom. If you are a teacher with a legal inquiry or if you would like to financially contribute to the next legal battle, please click on the links below.
Meet The Team
Jessica Tapia
Ms. Tapia has been the driving force behind exposing this injustice and bringing awareness to the rights of teachers. She is dedicated to helping others get the resources and support they need.
Robert Tyler
President & General Counsel
Robert has been instrumental in the furtherance of religious liberty and other constitutional liberties through the education of officials and the prosecution of numerous federal lawsuits.
Julianne Fleischer
Legal Counsel
As legal counsel at Advocates for Faith & Freedom, Julianne Fleischer is passionate about using her legal skills to defend constitutional rights nationwide. Julianne handles a variety of constitutional law matters concerning religious liberty, free speech, and the right to life.
Bethany Onishenko
Legal Counsel
Bethany has always had a heart for service and to protect the God-given freedoms and value of all people. This prompted Bethany to intern for a U.S. Representative, spend a semester studying and working at a faith-based litigation firm in Washington, D.C.
Kelly Chang Rickert
Legal Counsel
As a first generation immigrant from Taiwan, Kelly was 9 years old when she took a naturalization oath to support and defend the Constitution. She is committed to defending God-given freedoms people enjoy in America.
Nicole Velasco
Director of Communications
Nicole joined the Advocates team with over 20 years of combined experience as a paralegal, human resource professional, administrative assistant and business owner. She is very excited to use that experience in her current role, as the Director of Communications.
Susan Kenney
Director of Operations
Sue assists the attorneys on a daily basis with their case management. She has over 35 years of experience, managing and providing legal support throughout the various departments of a law firm. She is detail-oriented and efficiently works with the demands of many difference functions through the firm.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
A former member of the governing body of the St. Joseph, Missouri Public Library claims in a lawsuit that the decision not to re-appoint him last year is a violation of his rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.