Palatine Teacher Fired Following Facebook Post Investigation

PALATINE, IL — Township High School District 211 board members voted in favor Thursday to end a Palatine High School teacher's employment with the district. According to a Journal & Topics report, the school board voted 5-2 to fire social studies teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth, stemming from an investigation into her Facebook post last month about Black Lives Matter protests.

District 211 Superintendent Lisa Small wrote ahead of Thursday's meeting that the board of education "may act upon a resolution regarding the suspension and dismissal oftenured employee Jeanne Hedgepeth."

According to the news report, Hedgepeth submitted a retirement letter last month, before rescinding it.

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Screenshots of the apparent Palatine High School teacher's post were shared on social media last month, according to the Daily Herald. District 211 administration released a statement regarding the reported posts in a response last month to the Daily Herald.

The since-deleted post referred to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as "race baiters" and said the term white privilege "is as racist" as a racial slur, according to Journal & Topics.

According to her LinkedIn page, Hedgepeth had been a teacher at the school for 20 years.