The Carroll ISD school board spent more than two hours meeting with lawyers Monday and has announced an agreement with a teacher who was reprimanded for a book in her classroom.
Rickie Farah teaches fourth grade at Johnson Elementary School in Southlake. She was named a Carroll ISD teacher of the year in 2020-2021, but in the fall, the school board voted to reprimand her over a book one of her students brought home.
The student's parents filed a complaint after seeing the book, called, This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work. After the school board voted to reprimand Farah, she filed her own complaint against the board.
Several parents and teachers spoke at a meeting Monday morning. All who spoke were supporting Farah, saying her principal and school administration did not see a reason for a reprimand.
"I see the board's decision to reprimand a teacher after two levels of educators chose not to as an overreach," said Stephanie Williams, who said she has experience as a teacher and has children in the district.
"Today I'm asking you, as a board, to put politics aside and think about your students, your teachers and your community," said Kelsie Hedrick, a parent whose child is in Farah's class.
After the closed session, the school board voted unanimously to accept an agreement with Farah's lawyer. Both sides say details about the agreement are confidential.
"I think we've come to a really good conclusion," says Board President Eric Lannan.
"Ms. Farah's very pleased with the outcome and very grateful this has been resolved," her representative, Jason Stewart, said. "She loves this community and her students, and she looks forward to continued success in the classroom."
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