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A former gym teacher reached a settlement with a California public school district, after claiming she was wrongfully fired when she refused to lie to parents about their child's pronoun preference and hide her religious beliefs.
Jessica Tapia will receive $360,000 from the Jurupa Unified School District after she was fired in 2022 and accused of proselytizing during class.
The teacher said the district accused her of not calling a student by their preferred pronouns, but denies ever being asked by a student to do so in the first place.
She claimed the district directed her to refer to students by their preferred gender pronouns, refrain from publicly posting her faith and opinions on social media, and refrain from discussing her religious beliefs or the Bible with students, which she refused to do.
'What happened to me can happen to anybody, and I want the next teacher to know that it is worth it to take a stand for what is right,' Tapia said.
Jessica Tapia (pictured) will receive $360,000 from the Jurupa Unified School District after she was fired in 2022 and accused of 'proselytizing' during class
The teacher said the district accused her of not calling a student by their preferred pronouns, but denies ever being asked by a student to do so in the first place
The Jurupa Unified School District (pictured) told DailyMail.com that the settlement does not state or prove any illegal action or discrimination on their part
'In 2022 I took a stand for truth, I was a PE teacher who was directed to refer to students by whatever gender they felt they were, withhold that information from their parents and allow boys into the girls locker room.'
'Because I refused to lie to kids about their identify, because I refused to lie to their parents, and because I refused to kids in harm's way, they fired me,' Tapia said.
The Jurupa Unified School District told DailyMail.com that the settlement does not state or prove any illegal action or discrimination on their part.
'This settlement is not a win for Ms. Tapia but is in compromise of a disputed claim,' Jurupa Unified School District Director of Communications Jacquie Paul said.
'The District continues to deny any illegal action or discrimination against Ms. Tapia. As is clear from the settlement agreement, the District has not admitted any fault or wrongdoing against Ms. Tapia.'
After announcing the settlement, Tapia shared she and Advocates for Faith and Freedom launched a program called Teachers Don't Lie to provide support and legal help to teachers facing similar challenges.
'I want teachers to be confident in the fact that the best thing we can do for students is educate in truth, not deception,' Tapia said.
'This is why I'm joining forces with Advocates for Faith and Freedom to launch Teachers Don’t Lie, a resource that will be committed to giving a voice of truth to teachers. I am confident that we are making progress to ensure that no teacher has their faith violated within schoolhouse gates again.'
According to the lawsuit, which was filed by Advocates for Faith and Freedom on Tapia's behalf, the Riverside woman was originally praised for her work after she became a full-time employee at the school district in 2016.
It stated that when Tapia was working at the Mira Loma Middle School, the principal once praised her work, writing: 'Her positive attitude and high expectations make her students believe in themselves, and therefore strive to achieve their potential.'
But two days after the end of the 2021 - 22 school year, Tapia's career came crashing down when she received disturbing messages and comments on her personal Instagram page from alleged Jurupa Valley High School students.
When she went to work the next day, the suit contended, Tapia was told she had to meet with Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Daniel Brooks, who told her that the district was aware of her social media posts and she would be put on administrative leave.
A review of Tapia's social media shows she has spoken out against transgenderism
'The District claimed, as allegedly supported by students, that Ms. Tapia's social media posts were racist, offensive, disrespectful and mocking towards individuals based upon their sexual orientation,' the lawsuit explained.
Lawyers for Tapia, however, argue that is a 'mischaracterization' of who Tapia is, noting that her faith requires her to love 'all people, regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.
'But her faith precludes her from endorsing policies that cause her to reject her faith, such as facilitating a student's gender transition or withholding information about it from the student's parents,' it says.
The suit explained as a devout Christian, Tapia believes God defines human sexuality, and that men and women are created in God's image.
She also believes lying in any form is inconsistent with the Bible's teachings, and has expressed that belief on social media.
A review of Tapia's Facebook account by DailyMail.com shows that in June of that year, she posted that she 'just felt like speakin' some truth.
'Don't twist the beautiful things God has created, and don't twist truthful words into hate,' she wrote.
And in a Twitter post she wrote: 'Truth over transitions.
'If you think you're going to break someone's heart by telling them the truth of who they really are, then break their heart.'
She then shared that tweet on her Facebook in February, writing: 'We can be as gentle and loving as possible in this, and we should be, but the fact of the matter is that truth still cuts to the core.
'But that's no reason to lie. Why? To avoid temporary hurt feelings?'
Still, the lawsuit contended, the posts were made on her personal profiles and did not list her as an employee of the school district.
It also noted that she never proselytized in school, and only spoke about her faith when students asked her directly.
In the aftermath of her suspension, the lawsuit says, the district allegedly sent Tapia a Notice of Unprofessional Conduct and presented her with 'A Plan of Assistance and Directives' for the following school year.
Tapia and Advocates for Faith and Freedom launched a program called Teachers Don't Lie to provide support and legal help to teachers facing similar challenges
Tapia said she never proselytized in school, and only spoke about her faith when students asked her directly
It included a list of written and verbal directives requiring her to 'lie to parents about their children's gender identity, to refrain from posting content that would 'adversely affect' her relationship with students and banned her from expressing her religious beliefs with students.'
She decided to take a medical leave of absence through December 2022, then sent the district a letter saying she would like to return to work but could not comply with the conditions.
'Staying true to my faith and beliefs, I can and will only refer to students by the name and gender/pronouns provided by their parents/legal guardians on school paperwork during enrollment,' she wrote.
'The lies and confusion that children are fed in terms of "You aren't who you were created to be" is based in evil and I will not take part in that,' she continued.
'Therefore, the best thing I can do to support students and equip them for a bright future is to love and encourage them in who they were created to be, and that is what they were born as, either male or female.'