Iowa teachers suspended over viral student-run drag show reach settlement before trial
Three Iowa teachers who were disciplined for helping to facilitate a student-led drag show have reached a settlement after filing discrimination lawsuits against the Ankeny Community School District.The district launched investigations into teachers Jill Bjorklund, Mollie Jo Blahunka and PJ Hurley in May 2022, after they approved or attended a drag show for students held on campus after school hours.Students with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs at Ankeny High School and Southview Middle School hosted youth drag performers from the Central Iowa Youth Pride Pageant for the school clubs' final meeting of the year, according to the plaintiffs' complaint. Blahunka and Bjorklund were faculty sponsors for the school clubs, while Hurley was another teacher invited by students to attend.According to the complaint, students voluntarily attended the event and "no one at the event was harmed or offended, nor was any educational purpose interrupted by any part of the event."COLORADO TEACHER FIRED AFTER STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED TO KISS CLASSMATES IN SKITSThe event attracted controversy after clips of the drag performance went viral, prompting Ankeny to launch an investigation.Ankeny Community Schools said in a statement that the event was not approved by school administration and did "not follow the correct protocols prior to the meeting."The plaintiffs disputed this statement.
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Three Iowa teachers who were disciplined for helping to facilitate a student-led drag show have reached a settlement after filing discrimination lawsuits against the Ankeny Community School District.The district launched investigations into teachers Jill Bjorklund, Mollie Jo Blahunka and PJ Hurley in May 2022, after they approved or attended a drag show for students held on campus after school hours.Students with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs at Ankeny High School and Southview Middle School hosted youth drag performers from the Central Iowa Youth Pride Pageant for the school clubs' final meeting of the year, according to the plaintiffs' complaint. Blahunka and Bjorklund were faculty sponsors for the school clubs, while Hurley was another teacher invited by students to attend.According to the complaint, students voluntarily attended the event and "no one at the event was harmed or offended, nor was any educational purpose interrupted by any part of the event."COLORADO TEACHER FIRED AFTER STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED TO KISS CLASSMATES IN SKITSThe event attracted controversy after clips of the drag performance went viral, prompting Ankeny to launch an investigation.Ankeny Community Schools said in a statement that the event was not approved by school administration and did "not follow the correct protocols prior to the meeting."The plaintiffs disputed this statement. In the complaint, Blahunka alleged she spoke with the Ankeny High School activities director about the students' desire to host an end-of-the-year celebration on campus in conjunction with the Southview GSA club, and later reserved the high school auditorium for the event.According to the Des Moines Register, all three teachers were put on leave following the incident, with Bjorklund and Blahunka ultimately being suspended for a few days during the following school year. All three employees were banned from sponsoring school activities and threatened with termination for any future violations, according to the Des Moines Register.
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- Three Iowa teachers who were disciplined for helping to facilitate a student-led drag show have reached a settlement after filing discrimination lawsuits against the Ankeny Community School District.The district launched investigations into teachers Jill Bjorklund, Mollie Jo Blahunka and PJ Hurley in May 2022, after they approved or attended a drag show for students held on campus after school hours.Students with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs at Ankeny High School and Southview Middle School hosted youth drag performers from the Central Iowa Youth Pride Pageant for the school clubs' final meeting of the year, according to the plaintiffs' complaint. Blahunka and Bjorklund were faculty sponsors for the school clubs, while Hurley was another teacher invited by students to attend.According to the complaint, students voluntarily attended the event and "no one at the event was harmed or offended, nor was any educational purpose interrupted by any part of the event."COLORADO TEACHER FIRED AFTER STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED TO KISS CLASSMATES IN SKITSThe event attracted controversy after clips of the drag performance went viral, prompting Ankeny to launch an investigation.Ankeny Community Schools said in a statement that the event was not approved by school administration and did "not follow the correct protocols prior to the meeting."The plaintiffs disputed this statement.
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Iowa teachers suspended over viral student-run drag show reach settlement before trial
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