Education panel rules in favor of former DCPS teacher – FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX

In 2021, Amy Donofrio was removed from the classroom after she refused to take down the flag. Thursday's ruling allows her to keep her teaching license.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A former Duval County Public Schools teacher will keep her teaching license after she was removed three years ago for displaying a Black Lives Matter flag in her classroom.

Thursday, Floridas Education Practices Commission voted unanimously in favor of allowing Amy Donofrio to retain her license.

Donofrio said she's happy to have closure.

"The last three years have been without a doubt, the hardest years of my life," Donofrio said.

In 2021, Donofrio was reassigned for refusing to remove a Black Lives Matter flag from her Robert E. Lee High School classroom.

The commission unanimously agreeing with a judge's ruling that Donofrio did nothing wrong by refusing to remove the flag.

This circus that DCPS put, not just me but our community through, our children through this painful, painful chapter, it was all completely unnecessary," Donofrio said.

Donofrios removal came as the schools name was changing from Lee High School to Riverside.

Former Florida Education Commissioner, Richard Corcoran, called out Donofrio at the time saying, "we made sure she was terminated."

Donofrio sued DCPS and the two sides settled for $300,000 in 2021.

Thursday ruling provided closed the latest chapter for the former teacher.

Affirming Black students is our professional responsibility as teachers to do. It's not something that should cost someone their job. It's not something that should cost someone their teaching license. And today in the state of Florida, it didn't," Donofrio said.

The commission did issue a written reprimand to Donofrio saying she failed to keep her personal beliefs out of the classroom by allowing students to wear face masks saying, "Robert E. Lee is a gang member."

First Coast Newsreached out to Duval County Public Schools and is waiting to hear back.

Donofrio says she has not heard from the district, but said she wants to stay in Jacksonville and help kids.

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Education panel rules in favor of former DCPS teacher - FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX