For almost three years, former Cobb County Elementary School teacher Katie Rinderle has fought to get her job back. In August 2023, the Cobb County School Board voted 4 to 3 to end her employment with the district, because she read “My Shadow is Purple” by Scott Stuart to her fifth-grade class. She obtained the book from the school book fair, but its themes of gender identity set off a firestorm among some parents. The school board determined Rinderle had violated the district’s policy related to “controversial issues” and her termination caught international attention.
Rinderle said she keeps up the fight to get her job back to protect students and educators.
“From the start, my motivation really has been my students. All students in Georgia. Far beyond. Also, teachers,” Rinderle said. “If you don’t have clear limits, then that traps you as an educator. If you can be fired for defending yourself, that traps you as an educator. And so, that will also ultimately have an impact on our students.”
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