Joanie Garratt, a retired Beverly Hills High School teacher who was working as a long-term substitute, she said she was fired for speaking out against the president-elect and a recent pro-Trump campus incident. (photo by Tabor Brewster)

A Beverly Hills High School teacher said she was fired after making a Facebook post that criticized President-Elect Donald Trump and a recent demonstration where pro-Trump students gathered on the school’s campus. Joanie Garratt retired in 2023 after teaching full-time at the school for nearly 30 years, and was teaching AP U.S. history as a substitute teacher on a long-term assignment when she made the post. She said she received a phone call on Nov. 13 from one of the school district’s assistant superintendents notifying her of her termination.

Garratt stated in the Facebook post on Nov. 7 that she was “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 and 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 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.”

Garratt stated in an interview with the Beverly Press that she did not bring up the election “at all” in class during her teaching assignment, and her statements critical of Trump and the incident were limited to social media.

A Beverly Hills Unified School District representative would not confirm or deny Garratt’s termination.

On Nov. 6, dozens of pro-Trump students crowded the school’s courtyard to celebrate Trump’s victory. A TikTok video that went viral captured the moment students roared in applause as others shouted, “four more years” and waved Trump flags. At one point, a school security guard could be seen holding up a Trump flag.

Days later, Beverly Hills High School set new parameters to further restrict gatherings on campus. It banned flags attached to flagpoles, profanity and threatening language. Additionally, “students may not assemble, create moving mobs or form circles for the purpose of shouting, jumping and physically contacting others,” Beverly Hills High School principal Drew Stewart wrote in a message sent to BHHS families on Nov. 7.

At a school board meeting on Nov. 12, several Black students and Bella Ivory, the school’s fashion design teacher, alleged that pro-Trump students involved in the courtyard demonstration later targeted a classroom where members of the Black Student Union were present. According to Ivory, the pro-Trump students banged on the door, rattled the doorknob and shouted hateful language toward the Black students.

Ivory did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Security footage obtained by the Beverly Press shows dozens of pro-Trump students walking down a school hallway. At one point, a student holding a Trump flag at the front of the group stops near the door of Ivory’s classroom. One student knocks on the door, however it is unclear if he is associated with the pro-Trump students. As the group passes, several more students knock on the door, appear to motion to people inside the classroom and one tries to open the door. However, it is unclear if the students knocking are associated with the pro-Trump group. The video does not contain audio.

Some Black students who spoke at the school board meeting said they have repeatedly encountered racism at Beverly Hills High School, which intensified during the week of the election. They recounted being called the n-word and facing discrimination.

“I’ve had to deal with a lot of racism my entire life, but coming to Beverly [Hills High School], I’ve unfortunately had to experience a lot more,” Jurnee Burrell-Williams, a senior and president of the Black Student Union, said.

Garratt said she received a phone call from a school district administrator on Nov. 13, the day after the school board meeting. She said the administrator told her the school did not want her to return for the remainder of her substitute teaching assignment due to her online post.

“I was really shocked with what happened,” Garratt said. “I did not see this coming by a longshot.”

Garratt said she has received an outpouring of support from her colleagues at Beverly Hills High School, including from some coworkers she did not expect. She posted on Facebook announcing her termination and received dozens of supportive comments, many of which came from school parents and former students in the school district.

“I think the entire faculty [at] Beverly Hills High School is aware of what has happened,” Garratt said.

She added that she believes many other teachers fear retaliation for criticizing the president-elect and his supporters online.

“I just think they’re very afraid. A lot of us feel that we’re muzzled,” Garratt said.

According to BHUSD School Board policy, “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.”

In a statement issued to the BHUSD community on Nov. 15, Superintendent Michael Bregy addressed the incident.

“During recent demonstrations at Beverly Hills High School, our staff closely monitored all activities. When actions became disruptive, we responded quickly, implementing measures to de-escalate the situation and reestablish a setting where everyone felt comfortable and respected,” Bregy wrote. “As a district, we firmly denounce any form of exclusionary, mocking or threatening behavior, standing for a community where every individual is welcomed. Actions that are discriminatory or obstructive have and will result in appropriate consequences. Equally, false accusations by students or staff are unacceptable and will be addressed accordingly. We cannot condemn actions that did not occur or those that are lawful under [the] California Education Code. It is not our role to judge opinions but rather, to nurture positive exchanges.”