The Constitution protects the right of every American to speak freely and live out their faith, including in public schools. Unfortunately, many schools, school districts, and school boards are undercutting these rights with policies that force educators to violate their deeply held beliefs. But educators do not leave their constitutional freedoms at the schoolhouse door.
Alliance Defending Freedom is committed to ensuring that all educators nationwide are free to speak, live, and work in accordance with their faith and conscience. No teacher, coach, counselor, administrator, or any other educator should ever be forced into silence or compelled to speak as a condition of keeping their job.
Educators are an essential and must be free to partner with parents to provide the best education for children. Our laws must protect their First Amendment rights.
![K-12 Guide_Resources](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2024-04/ADFD_AD_FEB%202024%20K-12%20Educators%27%20Guide_Blurred_1433x804.jpeg?h=a26f9688&itok=aaAdpCmr)
Meet ADF's Clients
![Peter Vlaming](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2024-03/peter-vlaming-compressed.jpg?h=3873714b&itok=HLEgdrAH)
High school French teacher was fired for respectfully declining to use pronouns inconsistent with biological sex
![Lindsay Barr](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/public/styles/3_2_sm/public/2023-08/faith-and-justice-2023-august-lindsay-barr-thumbnail.jpg?h=1656f6d3&itok=UDfE4YGR)
Georgia teacher fired after raising concerns about picture book shown to young children.
![Loudoun County teachers Kim Wright, Tanner Cross, and Monica Gill](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2024-04/Kim-Wright-Tanner-Cross-Monica-Gill-Loudoun-County-teachers.jpg?h=2d4855b8&itok=22tXgZIg)
Teachers stand up to school board policy that forces educators to violate beliefs about gender and sexuality.
![South Madison Community Schools fired counselor Kathy McCord after she spoke to a journalist about a deceptive policy](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/public/styles/3_2_sm/public/2023-05/Kathy-McCord-Indiana-School-Counselor.jpg?h=3e099002&itok=2JqdubbJ)
Indiana school counselor fired for speaking about a deceptive gender identity policy
![John Kluge served as an orchestra teacher at Brownsburg High School in Indiana](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/public/styles/3_2_sm/public/2023-08/John-Kluge-Wooden-Background.jpg?h=86e009c4&itok=e3wjT37j)
Music teacher forced to resign from his job because of his religious beliefs.
![Liam Morrison wearing his "There are only two genders" shirt on the sidewalk](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2024-02/Liam-Morrison-Two-Genders-Shirt-Sidewalk.jpg?h=41145c44&itok=3pp7hplF)
Liam Morrison was censored by his school for wearing a shirt with the message, "There are only two genders."
ADF's Clients Speak Out
Katie Medart and Rachel Sager
Oregon Educators Fired for Speaking Beliefs Outside of Work.
Sacred Heart Academy
Catholic Schools Must be Able to Practice Their Faith.
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School
Oklahoma Charter School Board Takes Stand for Religious Freedom.
Defending Parental Rights in Public Schools
Some schools have adopted policies that undermine parents’ rights to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their children. Learn more about how ADF is working to ensure that parental rights are protected.
![Parents Giving Their Kids a Piggyback Ride](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2023-12/Parents-Giving-Kids-Piggyback.jpg?h=8d7450e4&itok=6dXwCsxw)
Parents’ rights to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children are fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.
![Father and children with backpacks walking to school](https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/styles/3_2_sm/s3/2024-04/Father-and-children-with-backpacks-walking-to-school.jpg?h=b69e0e0e&itok=wGvvtLPk)
Local, state, and federal government policies are imposing ideologies that divide children by race and promote the falsehood that a boy can become a girl or vice-versa. Some schools are treating children as if they are the opposite sex without the permission of parents. To protect children, parents need laws that protect their rights.