BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, August 17, a former substitute history teacher, Joanie Garrett of the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) filed a lawsuit against BHUSD for what she perceives as her wrongful termination over anti-Trump rhetoric she posted on her Facebook page in November of 2024, prior to being terminated.
Canyon News initially reported on this situation on December 6, 2024. At the time, students at Beverly Hills High School were participating in the election process in the only way that they could. Part of student body was dressed patriotically, or in Make America Great Again gear, or carrying an American flag.
Ms. Garrett was reportedly offended by the scene and publicized it on her Facebook page making the following statement.
“Some students arrived at school truly upset and 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.”
According to Garrett, the Assistant Superintendent, Matthew Horvath indicated that the school no longer needed her in the classroom. She now insists that she was fired due to a post she put on her personal Facebook page.
In December of 2024, Superintendent Michael Bregy stated that, “No action was taken to dismiss her or any other employee last month.”
Garrett contends that she was an AP history substitute teacher who was fired when exercising her first amendment right of freedom of speech. She claims the firing caused severe emotional stress, sleeplessness, nausea, weight loss, tremors, humiliation, and irreputable harm to her reputation and is suing BHUSD for what her attorney, V James DeSimone refers to as “damages” of $50,000.
Reports indicate that Ms. Garrett, a 30-year teacher with BHUSD, retired from teaching years ago, and came back as a substitute teacher.
A spokesperson for BHUSD issued the following statement.
“The Beverly Hills Unified School District does not terminate employees for political statements made on their own time. Any assertion otherwise is false. The District looks forward to the facts of this matter coming to light through the legal process.”
