In her lawsuit, Melissa Tempel claimed her firingwas in retaliation for comments she made on the social media platform Twitter. Tempel, who had been a teacher at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, criticized the district for not allowing the song “Rainbowland” to be performed at a first-grade concert.
In her Sept. 29 ruling dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Nancy Joseph wrote that although Tempel was speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, because her tweet disrupted the district’s operations, its interests took precedence in this case.
“The School District of Waukesha is pleased that this matter has been dismissed by the U.S. District Court,” wrote district Superintendent James Sebert in an email to a reporter. “As always, our focus remains intently on ensuring the academic success, growth and wellbeing of all of our students.”
“We are obviously incredibly disappointed in this decision and disagree with the conclusion. We are carefully evaluating all available options, including an appeal to the Seventh Circuit,” said Tempel’s attorney, Summer Murshid.