PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FIRED FOR BEING CONSERVATIVE:
My name is Jonathan Koeppel and I am a Certified Louisiana Public School Teacher who was just fired from my job. For over a year I have been exercising my 1st amendment rights and have become a pro-freedom advocate. I've spoken at senate hearings, educational review committees, and school board meetings in opposition of critical race theory, transgender educational materials, and other matters relating to public education. In fact, a video of me speaking about BrainPop gained over 10million views in less than 48 hours before being banned as hate speech. See video here: https://www.ntd.com/teacher-against-gender-wokeism-goes-viral_606196.html
Over the summer of 2021 I traveled the United States and was able to encourage other young people (I'm 26 by the way) to be brave and take a stand for freedom and what is right. I was also able to work with Marco Rubio's office to help identify U.S. citizens that were stranded in Cuba during the July pro-freedom protests on the island. When I returned to work at the end of summer break, I was immediately kicked off of campus and told I had a hearing to attend and that it was about my job. See video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHMjP-I69L/
To give full context, I was given a mask exemption the prior school year due to legitimate issues I have with my nose that stem from a boxing match when I was a teenager. I made it clear on social media that I would not be wearing a mask to work when the Louisiana Governor issues his new mask mandate; reason #1 is because I am exempt according to the governor's mandate, reason #2 is that I was given an exemption from my employer. Louisiana had a mask mandate that was to go into full effect on Wednesday, August 4th. On August 3rd, Louisiana was under a voluntary mask mandate.
When I walked into the school cafeteria, a room full of maskless people, on August 3rd - I was immediately singled out by my principal and kicked off of campus in public view (keep in mind that my state was under a voluntary mask mandate on that day). I was told that I had to go home because I would not wear the mask to school. Even though I had an approved medical exemption which was accepted by my employer AND the mask mandate did not go into effect until the next day, I was kicked off campus and told not to return.
At first, I was being disciplined because of my refusal to wear a mask. THEN I was later notified that my employer was very upset with my public involvement in the community. They referenced my social media platforms and said that I am unprofessional and am not allowed to speak openly on matters other than for general discussion. However - the local teacher's union told me that I do have a right to free speech, and that is protected.
After two official hearings with my principal and the Assistant Superintendent, I was officially terminated. At first it was because I wouldn't wear a mask and allegedly violated the governor's mandate. But in the end, it had almost nothing to do with wearing a mask. On the official termination letter it doesn't actually give a reason for why I was fired.I will now be taking legal action against my former employer and need YOUR help to do so. The money raised will go towards my upfront and future legal costs and to float my living expenses over the next few months as I have no primary source of income and have a lot of figuring out to do.. I will also do my best to make good use of my time and continue fighting for freedom in my home state of Louisiana.
My name is Jonathan Koeppel and I am a Certified Louisiana Public School Teacher who was just fired from my job. For over a year I have been exercising my 1st amendment rights and have become a pro-freedom advocate. I've spoken at senate hearings, educational review committees, and school board meetings in opposition of critical race theory, transgender educational materials, and other matters relating to public education. In fact, a video of me speaking about BrainPop gained over 10million views in less than 48 hours before being banned as hate speech. See video here: https://www.ntd.com/teacher-against-gender-wokeism-goes-viral_606196.html
Over the summer of 2021 I traveled the United States and was able to encourage other young people (I'm 26 by the way) to be brave and take a stand for freedom and what is right. I was also able to work with Marco Rubio's office to help identify U.S. citizens that were stranded in Cuba during the July pro-freedom protests on the island. When I returned to work at the end of summer break, I was immediately kicked off of campus and told I had a hearing to attend and that it was about my job. See video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHMjP-I69L/
To give full context, I was given a mask exemption the prior school year due to legitimate issues I have with my nose that stem from a boxing match when I was a teenager. I made it clear on social media that I would not be wearing a mask to work when the Louisiana Governor issues his new mask mandate; reason #1 is because I am exempt according to the governor's mandate, reason #2 is that I was given an exemption from my employer. Louisiana had a mask mandate that was to go into full effect on Wednesday, August 4th. On August 3rd, Louisiana was under a voluntary mask mandate.
When I walked into the school cafeteria, a room full of maskless people, on August 3rd - I was immediately singled out by my principal and kicked off of campus in public view (keep in mind that my state was under a voluntary mask mandate on that day). I was told that I had to go home because I would not wear the mask to school. Even though I had an approved medical exemption which was accepted by my employer AND the mask mandate did not go into effect until the next day, I was kicked off campus and told not to return.
At first, I was being disciplined because of my refusal to wear a mask. THEN I was later notified that my employer was very upset with my public involvement in the community. They referenced my social media platforms and said that I am unprofessional and am not allowed to speak openly on matters other than for general discussion. However - the local teacher's union told me that I do have a right to free speech, and that is protected.
After two official hearings with my principal and the Assistant Superintendent, I was officially terminated. At first it was because I wouldn't wear a mask and allegedly violated the governor's mandate. But in the end, it had almost nothing to do with wearing a mask. On the official termination letter it doesn't actually give a reason for why I was fired.
