Superior Court Judge Kimberly A. Childs released a ruling made on January 24, 2025 in favor of the Cobb County Board of Education’s decision to terminate Katherine Rinderle, a teacher at Due West Elementary, for violating district policies.
In the court decision, which can be viewed here, Judge Childs agreed that Rinderle’s actions violated Cobb County School District’s (CCSD) Policy IKB-R, which prohibits teachers from addressing “controversial issues” in the classroom.
Judge Childs emphasized that parents have a “statutory right under the law to direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of their children.” She further stated that district employees should “not improperly infringe upon this right.”
The controversy arose after Rinderle read and discussed the book My Shadow Is Purple with her students. According to court records, when her students asked if they should refer to the book’s main character as “he” or “she,” Rinderle instructed them to use “they.” This response reportedly caused confusion among the young students and led to complaints from parents.
Following an investigation, the district found that Rinderle’s actions demonstrated a pattern of insubordination and lack of professional judgment, according to a district teacher who requested anonymity. Rinderle’s termination notice cited “insubordination” as the cause, as reflected in the final court ruling.
Among Rinderle’s legal representatives is an attorney from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a group that has been vocal in its opposition to current Cobb County School District leaders and has sought their removal from office. This ruling marks yet another recent setback for the SPLC who have actively sought the defeat of Board Member Brad Wheeler.
Additionally, the SPLC has suffered numerous defeats in the court system as well (An in-depth look at the SPLC is forthcoming)
A Cobb County Schools spokesperson responded to the court’s decision, stating:
“The ruling by the Cobb Superior Court confirms what the District has maintained from the beginning of the case: the District’s decision was lawful and necessary. As noted by the Court, the Board’s decision was based on a ‘solid basis’ with ‘adequate evidence’ to support it. The ruling affirmed that Ms. Rinderle knowingly violated District rules and policy and also showed evidence of dishonesty during the investigation. The Court’s ruling aligns with the State Board of Education’s similar conclusion last year.”
The spokesperson added, “We remain committed to following the law and ensuring our classrooms remain focused on teaching and learning.”
Cobb County School Board members declined to comment on the ruling, noting that the decision may be subject to appeal.
