Former Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) teacher Joanie Garratt has filed an administrative claim against the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) for wrongful termination and violation of her First Amendment rights. Garratt, an A.P. history teacher for over 30 years in the district, alleges she was fired over a Facebook post she made in her personal account that criticized President-elect Donald Trump. The post also reacted to the boisterous gathering of pro-Trump students at BHHS on Nov. 6.
Garratt’s claim, filed on Dec. 4 and reviewed by the Courier, states that she retired from full-time teaching after 30 years in the district, including 15 at BHHS, but continued her service as a substitute and volunteer faculty facilitator for the school’s Interact Club.
The claim further states that Garratt was hired in November of this year as a substitute teacher for the term of one month to prepare students for the A.P. U.S. History exam.
“She was an employee on a specialized assignment in Advanced Placement History. She is uniquely qualified for this and was supposed to be working through December,” Garratt’s attorney V. James DeSimone told the Courier.
Garratt graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA and holds a master’s degree in government from Harvard, and has earned numerous honors during her teaching career.
On Nov. 7, the day after the pro-Trump student rally, Garratt posted the following on her Facebook page: “I’m back at BHHS on a long-term assignment teaching A.P. US History again. I enjoy it immensely & only sub when I can seriously teach.”
The post continued, “I was, however, disheartened by a recent event on campus the day after the election. A MAGA faction dressed in full Trump regalia (banners draped around them, flying banners, red hats) not only had a MAGA rally on campus but harassed & intimidated many other non-MAGA students and specifically targeted the class where the Black Student Union was meeting, yelling all kinds of racial slurs.
Some students arrived at school truly upset & even crying only to be bullied later by their classmates. And don’t blame the administration for this. They are dealing with it. This comes from their leader, His Majesty, King Trump.”
A message from the editorial staff of the BHHS student newspaper on Nov. 7 criticized the disruptive and bullying tactics at the rally. The Courier’s Nov. 15 issue reported on claims of racial slurs and intimidation against the members of the Black Student Union and their faculty advisor. Seven students and BHHS teacher Bella Ivory later recounted their experiences during the Nov. 12 BHUSD Board of Trustees meeting.
According to DeSimone, “Joanie was within her rights to express her opinions and views in [her] personal Facebook page as long as she did not take it into the classroom in a way that was disruptive. There was never a disruption in the classroom.”
After her post on Nov. 7, Garratt continued teaching until Nov. 13.
According to the administrative claim, “In the days following her Facebook post, Ms. Garratt taught her class, educating, supporting and bonding with her students. Her class encountered absolutely no disruptions. However, on November 13th, Matthew Horvath, Assistant Superintendent in charge of Personnel Services for BHUSD, emailed Ms. Garratt, referenced her post on her personal account, and asked to meet
with her. They then had a brief phone call, where Mr. Horvath terminated Ms. Garratt’s employment informing her Beverly Hills High School did not want her back due to her online post. Beverly Hills HS did not even bother to express a pretextual rationale for this abrupt and unwarranted adverse employment action. Instead, the termination was clearly motivated by and in retaliation for her expression of personal political beliefs on her personal Facebook account, outside of the classroom and on her own time.”
The claim also cites BHUSD School Board policy that “an employee’s personal beliefs and activities, including religious, political, cultural, social or other beliefs or activities, or lack thereof, shall not be grounds for disciplinary action against the employee, provided that the beliefs or activities do not violate law, board policy or administrative regulation.”
DeSimone told the Courier, “Obviously, this is devastating for Ms. Garratt to lose her job in this way and what we can’t lose sight of is it is harmful to students, wondering if they have a shot at the exam.”
He added, “When she was contacted by Horvath, he used the terms, ‘We don’t want you back here.’ She did write an email with an inquiry about her status. She’s been ignored and marginalized. Nothing like that has ever happened to her.”
DeSimone also noted that under the law, “There doesn’t have to be a termination, if there’s an adverse employment action taken in violation of your rights. This claim is the first step in our achieving justice for her.”
Garratt’s administrative claim is a prerequisite to an actual lawsuit. She is alleging physical injury, emotional distress and economic loss.
In a statement to the Courier, BHUSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Bregy said, “Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) categorically denies the assertion that Ms. Joanie Garratt was terminated from her position. Ms. Garratt retired from full-time teaching in BHUSD years ago and was serving and remains a substitute teacher in the district. No action was taken to dismiss her or any other employee in the last month. Our focus remains on fostering an educational environment where students and staff are respected and valued. We encourage meaningful discussions that prioritize mutual understanding, respect, and accountability. BHUSD will continue to uphold its standards and policies to ensure that our schools are spaces where all voices can be expressed thoughtfully and responsibly. We trust these facts will clarify this matter.”
The district has 45 days to respond to the administrative claim.