News Summary
A former teacher’s assistant in Spartanburg County has filed a federal lawsuit against the Spartanburg County School District Five following her termination over a social media post. Lauren Vaughn lost her job after criticizing comments made by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk regarding the Second Amendment. The lawsuit claims her dismissal violated her constitutional rights and challenges the district’s social media policies as overly broad and discriminatory. Vaughn is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and damages for wrongful termination.
Spartanburg, South Carolina – A former teacher’s assistant from Spartanburg County has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Spartanburg County School District Five following her termination over comments made on social media. The lawsuit names the school district, its board of trustees, and Superintendent Randall R. Gary as defendants.
Lauren Vaughn lost her job on September 15 after a Facebook post she made on September 10, which was critical of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s statements on the Second Amendment. Vaughn expressed her condolences in response to Kirk’s comments on gun deaths, stating that some were “worth the cost” to uphold this constitutional right. Vaughn’s post was shared on her private Facebook account while she was off duty.
The lawsuit claims that Vaughn’s Facebook privacy settings were limited to her friends and that her post did not reference her position or the school district. In follow-up comments, she reiterated her disagreement with Kirk’s views and condemned gun violence. Vaughn’s termination was attributed to alleged violations of staff conduct, technology usage, and social media policies as outlined by the district.
According to the district’s social media policy, employees are required to maintain a “respectful and professional” demeanor and to represent the district positively at all times. Vaughn had worked at River Ridge Elementary for six years and had received positive evaluations, having been named Support Staff Employee of the Year in 2021. She was placed on administrative leave on September 12 and fired three days later.
The lawsuit indicates that complaints from some parents and staff regarding her post prompted the action taken against her, although no specifics about the complaints were shared. Vaughn’s attorney contends that her dismissal was a violation of her constitutional rights and that her comments did not disrupt the educational environment.
The lawsuit challenges the district’s social media policies as unconstitutional, overly broad, vague, and discriminatory based on viewpoints. Vaughn is seeking her job back, back pay, and compensation for wrongful termination.
This incident forms part of a broader trend of public employees facing disciplinary action due to their comments about Kirk’s assassination, a situation that has arisen across the country. The South Carolina Education Association has recognized the free speech rights of educators while also stressing the importance of exercising good judgment in discussions and comments regarding sensitive topics.
The Spartanburg County School District has declined to provide any comments regarding the ongoing litigation but has acknowledged its awareness of the lawsuit.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina
- Wikipedia: Free Speech
- WLTX
- Google Search: Teacher Aide Firing Lawsuit
- KSLA
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Freedom of Speech
- WYFF
- Google News: Charlie Kirk Firing Case
- The State
Author: STAFF HERE SPARTANBURG
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