Lawyers of Veteran Educator Amy Donofrio Respond to Education Commissioner鈥檚 Announcement of Decision to Terminate Her
DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. 鈥 During a at Hillsdale College, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran discussed the ongoing litigation involving Amy Donofrio, a Jacksonville teacher who was placed on administrative leave for refusing to remove a Black Lives Matter flag from her classroom door after school officials failed to provide a policy that the flag violated. In his remarks, the Commissioner made disturbing statements about the case, Ms. Donofrio's employment status, and the censorship of free speech in schools. The following statement is by the lawyers at the and representing Ms. Donofrio:
鈥淢s. Donofrio was devastated to learn from Commissioner Corcoran鈥檚 public statements of the decision to terminate her employment even though Duval County Public Schools still refuses to provide Ms. Donofrio with any details of the 鈥榓lleged misconduct鈥 for which she was told she was being investigated. That this decision has been made by those at the highest level of Florida鈥檚 Department of Education before the DCPS investigation is even completed shows the depth of the retaliation and deprivation of due process and free speech upon which Ms. Donofrio鈥檚 lawsuit against the District is based. According to Corcoran, a classroom that teaches Black Lives Matter or what Corcoran has labeled 鈥榗razy liberal stuff鈥 justifies censorship and the firing of teachers.鈥
The following is a statement from Ms. Donofrio:聽
鈥淲hile I am heartbroken that the retaliation against me continues, I will not stop fighting for my rights so that other teachers do not have to endure the retaliation, harassment, and humiliation that I have as a result of co-creating a safe learning environment with and for Black students.鈥