TL;DR: Melissa Tempel has been removed from her job for including the song "Rainbowland" in her first-grade students' choral concert. Her family won't have health insurance and they need help paying bills and legal fees as she fights this First Amendment violation in court. All extra money will be donated to GSAFE. Think of your favorite teacher. The one who made you laugh, who celebrated your successes, who made sure you were OK and helped when you weren't. The one who sparked your curiosity that drove your love of learning. Melissa Tempel has been that teacher for hundreds of students for 23 years, and she just found out she'll be terminated from her job for including the song "Rainbowland" in her first-grade students' choral concert. Melissa is the latest victim of the right-wing political takeover of local school boards. In the school district in which she was teaching at the time of her termination, eight of the nine board members are hand-picked and funded by right-wing backers. They changed the rules to further their agenda, and these extremist policies serve to silence teachers on the issues they know are hurting kids. Melissa wasn't silent, and now she's being made into an example in order to frighten other teachers into silence. She's also a real person with real-life problems caused by this political firing. Her family's healthcare is now gone. Her husband's construction employment is seasonal. She has two kids, one of whom is in college. This time is stressful beyond belief for her, and I want to make sure Melissa can pay her bills and support her family as she looks for her next position. But because she's Melissa, a person who never stops looking for ways to help others, she's uncomfortable with a fundraiser just for her. Any additional funds she raises outside of covering her basic needs and legal fees will be donated to GSAFE, a local org creating just schools for LGBTQ+ students in Wisconsin. Melissa understands she can use the visibility from this absurd story to lend power to marginalized students, and that's exactly what she wants to do. Your donation will support Melissa's family as they figure out what to do next, and any extra will go toward doing the work Melissa is no longer able to do because of her political firing - making sure ALL kids are treated with respect and kindness. Because kids shouldn't have to qualify to receive respect and kindness, should they? The words I've shared here are my own. For more information and to read Melissa's account in her own words, please read her personal statement (follows), and Google "Rainbowland teacher" for the hundreds of news stories already generated on the topic. Thanks so much for helping Maestra Melissa bounce back from this difficult time. With your help, she'll be back to saving the world soon. Melissa's personal statement dated May 17, 2023 "On Monday, April 3rd, I arrived at Heyer Elementary to begin a normal school day. I was met at the door by The School District of Waukesha’s human resources and district administrators who informed me that I was being placed on administrative leave. I was told that I could be disciplined if I discussed this matter with other staff, students, parents, or members of the public. I received no further communication from the District for 42 days. On Monday, May 15th, Superintendent Jim Sebert informed me that his recommendation to the board is that I be terminated. During the last month and a half, I have received an outpouring of loving, supportive emails, phone calls, text messages and hand written letters from parents, colleagues, the residents of Waukesha, and beyond. I have not been able to answer any of them, nor have I been able to check in on my students and their families. I would like to thank all of those who contacted me. Your support kept me going during this stressful time. Removing me from my classroom had a harmful and traumatic impact on my students and the children at Heyer Elementary school. I had 24 first graders in my classroom and many of them have special needs. Many of my students' families do not speak English, and resources were not provided in Spanish to those families. During my absence, I was not allowed to speak with the substitute in my classroom or my colleagues about lesson plans or the needs of my students. This is not normal procedure during a teacher’s absence. It was politically motivated, unneccessary cruelty, and it has caused undue harm for my students who were already recovering from a pandemic and the slaughter of their classmates and neighbors at the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy. Of everything that has happened, this is the part I am most upset about. Children and families should not be treated this way, and anyone acting with the best interest of children in mind would have known better. In my 23 year career, I have been consistently held up as a model educator. I am an award winning, National Board Certified Teacher who was rated “distinguished educator” by my administrators for three years in a row. Last year, I was named Outstanding Educator by Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and WEAC. I have never had disciplinary action taken against me. The lyrics of Rainbowland are beautiful and promote inclusivity. This song, as well as Dolly Parton’s work through the Imagination Library and Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation, are examples of the type of inspiration and kindness the world needs right now. Nothing proves this point more than the termination of a model educator who was removed from her position for teaching students about acceptance and empathy. I remain committed to the work I have done throughout my life and career, both inside and outside the classroom, as an activist, advocate, and ally. I believe we need to have conversations in our communities about how to make sure our schools are inclusive spaces where our students feel safe and can focus on learning. Organizations in Wisconsin like GSAFE Wisconsin, Diverse and Resilient, and Forge Wisconsin support these efforts. During my time in Waukesha, they have come through every time we asked for support. The information I have shared publicly about this issue has been shared during my personal time, off duty, and has been rooted in matters that are a public concern to the Waukesha Community, the state of Wisconsin and beyond. My goal has, and continues to be, to provide transformative experiences that educate, reflect, and inspire my students and us as individuals and a community, while acknowledging those individuals who have been marginalized or disenfranchised within our same community. These are matters of public concern which the public has a right to know about. I stand by my decision to share the impact of Policy 2240 with the public and I will fall asleep peacefully every night knowing that I did what was right for children. At this time, I am directing all communication to the Alliance for Education Waukesha."

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