Michigan Public School Teacher Fired For Pro-Trump Tweet
Washington Free Beacon reports his choice: resign or be fired
Editor's note: This story was updated with a response Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman gave to Fox Business. Gutman didn't respond to an email sent from Michigan Capitol Confidential. This article was also updated with comments a school district spokesperson gave to The Blaze website.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools has reportedly fired a teacher for posting on Twitter his support for President Donald Trump.
On July 6, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools teacher Justin Kucera posted on Twitter, “I’m done being silent. @realDonaldTrump is our president.”
Kucera later told the Washington Free Beacon that the Walled Lake Western principal and district superintendent told him he had to resign or be fired.
Washington Free Beacon reporter Chrissy Clark said she interviewed Kucera, who is listed as a social studies teacher on the school district website.
“I was required to meet with [human resources], the superintendent, and my principal [on July 10]. They initially took my statement on why I tweeted those tweets and they told me they would have a decision about my future employment in the upcoming days. When they completed the meeting, I was told I had the option to either be fired or resign.” Kucera said, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Superintendent Kenneth Gutman and School Board President Greg Janicki and Vice President Peggy Casagrande didn’t immediately return emails sent to their school district accounts. Kucera couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Gutman did comment to Fox Business, according to that news site.
Fox Business reported that Gutman said he was not in the July 10 meeting referenced by Kucera. He said, “No disciplinary action was taken as a result of any support of President Trump and we are unable to comment on specific staff discipline/personnel matters.”
The Blaze website reported a Walled Lake Consolidated Schools spokesperson released a statement to it. The statement said that Kucera was no longer an employee of the school district. The statement read, according to The Blaze:
"When media stories/issues that garner public attention arise, we want to keep you informed around the District response.”
“Recently there have been stories in the media regarding a former employee of Walled Lake. As a matter of policy and practice, Walled Lake Schools does not comment on current and/or former employees as it relates to specific personnel issues.”
“These are difficult times in our community and across our country. When issues arise there’s a temptation to view items through the lens of our fractured political discourse. Walled Lake encourages students and staff members to engage each other with mutual respect and civility.”
“We believe in the power of education and critical thinking. We believe vigorous community discussion, done with civility and mutual respect, leads to productive and innovative outcomes. In the Walled Lake Schools’ educational setting, we encourage positive discourse and working together to make decisions that benefit our community."
Michigan Capitol Confidential has submitted a Freedom of Information Act to the district regarding the incident, requesting more information.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.