Trans teacher reinstated by school board following parent complaints

Following a school board meeting convened because due to complaints from parents about her gender identity, a transgender teacher has been reinstated.

Laura Jane Klug had been teaching as a substitute at Lumberton Intermediate School, but has said she was told not to return to her classes after parents said they were concerned that their children might be “distracted” because she is transgender.

She said she had met with an HR representative of the Lumberton Independent School, John Valastro, on Tuesday afternoon, and that she had been suspended, pending a decision by the school board.

Now following a meeting of the board, Klug late on Thursday said she had been reinstated, reports LoneStarQ.

“I do feel relieved in the fact that I have been reinstated. I’m not going to jump in and start subbing tomorrow. I do want to give them some time.

“Hopefully this is going to be a really good learning moment for everybody involved,” The 52-year-old said. “It’s certainly an opportunity for principals to address the issue of people who are gender-nonconforming. Also, it might encourage somebody who is questioning their gender to maybe come forward.”

The school board heard from 13 public speakers on the issue, who were split on whether Klug should be reinstated or not.

Some parents had claimed that Klug’s gender identity proved to be a “distraction”, saying that it could “affect [childrens’] ability to learn,” and that the issue was to do with the age of children.

• Nov 29 2023

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