John Grande Sues Hartford Board Over First Amendment Dispute – BNN Breaking

Veteran Teacher Sues Hartford Board of Education Over Alleged First Amendment Violation

John Grande, a physical education teacher with over 30 years of experience in Hartford schools, is challenging the Hartford Board of Education and several individuals in a federal lawsuit, sparking conversations on free speech and the enforcement of training policies within educational systems. The individuals include Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, the superintendent of Hartford Public Schools; Edward Wilson Jr., the staff attorney and executive director of internal investigations and security; and Tracy Avicolli, the director of arts and wellness.

Grande alleges that the district violated his First Amendment rights and fabricated evidence against him after he criticized a mandatory Identity and Privilege training session. The lawsuit seeks to expunge a letter of reprimand from his file, secure restitution for his paid time off, and claim monetary damages for interference and deprivation of his First Amendment rights.

Further accusations suggest that school officials engaged in a witch hunt investigation against Grande and conducted a kangaroo court to convict him for his exercise of free speech rights. The veteran teacher contends that the training was part of a broader initiative to introduce critical race theory into the school system. Grande also disputes the language attributed to him by the school district and alleges that the Hartford Federation of Teachers failed to address his complaint about the schools training.

In a related development, Abby Zwerner, a former first grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, is suing the school for alleged inaction that could have prevented a classroom shooting incident. The event, which occurred on January 6, 2023, left Zwerner with physical and emotional scars. Despite her lawsuit, the school district maintains that the incident falls under workers compensation. Jeffrey Breit, Zwerners attorney, argued that no teacher should expect such violence in the classroom and that the school board needs to address the issue. The trauma has permanently affected Zwerners life, and her lawsuit continues to make progress.

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John Grande Sues Hartford Board Over First Amendment Dispute - BNN Breaking