Teacher Who Shared Anti-Trump Views In Front Of Students Submits Resignation

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Cherokee County School Board is poised to accept the resignation of a River Ridge High School math teacher who became embroiled in controversy after she was captured on video criticizing President Donald Trump in front of her students. The school board will consider approving Lyn Orletsky's resignation at its Thursday, Oct. 19 meeting.

The board's meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility on Bluffs Parkway in Canton. The meeting will be preceded by a work session set for 6 p.m.

School District spokesperson Barbara Jacoby said the teacher this week requested the board accept her resignation and release her from her teaching contract, effective Nov. 1 (Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Watch: Teacher Who Shared Anti-Trump Views In Front Of Students Submits Resignation

Orletsky landed in hot water when a video surfaced on Thursday, Aug. 31 of her espousing her beliefs in front of her students. She expressed personal opinions about the president as well as his Make America Great Campaign slogan and told two students who were wearing the shirts with the phrase that the apparel was not allowed in her classroom.

The Cherokee County School District backed the students, informing the teacher, its entire workforce and the community that not only were her assumptions about dress code wrong but also that she was in violation of federal and state laws that prohibit employees from taking part in activities such as sharing their personal political opinions with students during performance of their job duties and responsibilities.

Along with federal laws, state legislators further restricted political activity by public agencies, including school districts, with the passage of the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act. This bars entities or individuals, acting on behalf of an agency, from directly or indirectly making any contribution to a campaign committee, political action committee, candidate or political organization.

School district spokesperson Barbara Jacoby previously told Patch that Orletsky has been an employee with CCSD for five years, all of which have been served at River Ridge.

The controversy propelled State Senator Michael Williams, a Republican from Forsyth County running for governor, and dozens of his supporters to stage a protest along the right of way outside River Ridge High School, calling on the school district to fire Orletsky. It also urged former CCSD Principal Frankie Shepherd to publicly question whether the district would show the same level of support to students if they wear clothes with phrases such as "Black Lives Matter" or "I'm with her."

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