James Heidorn, West Chicago school teacher, victim of cancel culture? How a ‘GO ICE’ post on phys educator’s Facebook page in support of local police led to political fall out, accusations of students and parents not feeling safe and Gary Elementary teacher finding himself left hanging out to dry amid fraught political climate.
A victim of political posturing? A veteran Chicago-area gym teacher has been forced out of his job over a two-word social-media post in support of ICE. The ousted educator has since decried the episode as ‘devastating and surreal.’
James Heidorn, a longtime educator at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago, came under fire when he wrote ‘GO ICE’ on Facebook last month in response to a news story about local cops pledging to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
‘This process has been professionally and personally devastating and surreal,’ Heidorn told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
Chicago area teacher resigns after ‘GO ICE’ Facebook post leads to controversy
‘I’ve spent 14 years building my career, pouring my heart into teaching kids, building relationships and being a positive role model,’ the educator told the outlet.
‘To see it all upended over two simple words, ‘Go ICE,’ where I expressed my personal support for law enforcement felt like a severe blow to my career.’
Heidorn’s ‘GO ICE’ posting had sparked outrage within his heavily Hispanic school district, leading to the teacher eventually being placed on leave, and meeting with HR on Jan. 22.
The phys ed instructor briefly quit before rescinding his resignation later that day and was going to return to school the following Monday as the investigation continued. But fate had other ideas.
‘GO ICE!’ Facebook post decried as hurtful, offensive and insensitive
Before the investigation ran its course, West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey publicly denounced Heidorn’s pro-ICE post as ‘hurtful’ and ‘offensive’ to many in the community.
‘The issue is we have trusted adults who are the ones that care for those kids when they can’t be with their mom and their dad,’ Bovey shared in a Facebook post. ‘So to have someone cavalierly rooting on — as if it’s a football game or something, yeah go — events which have traumatized these children… that is the issue.’
Parents and locals soon decried the teacher’s post as ‘cruel’ amid claims that ‘kids do not feel safe’ as a result.
‘This started with a two-word comment on my personal Facebook page supporting law enforcement—nothing more,’ Heidorn said.
‘It wasn’t directed at any student, family or school community,’ the educator added.
‘Second, I was placed on leave and faced intense pressure before any full investigation or fair process could play out, with this it led to my resignation.
‘Third, I lost my career, my income and the chance to close out my time with my students properly—no farewell, no goodbyes.’
Chicago physical education teacher reflects on fallout
According to the educator, the hardest part of ‘being pushed out’ was the loss of close relationships with students he cultivated over the years — which included pupils from all backgrounds.
‘Emotionally, it’s been a roller coaster that has me feeling a great deal of shock, loss and deep sadness over losing daily contact with my students,’ Heidorn told FOX.
‘Feelings of anger and frustration at how quickly things escalated without real dialogue, and grief for not getting to say a proper goodbye to the kids I cared so much for,’ he said. ‘I’ve had sleepless nights.
‘But I’m trying to stay focused on my family and the support I’ve received from people who know the real me.’
After a hearing with school officials, Heidorn resigned a second time before he could be fired. The episode has also led to Heidom also losing his gig coaching soccer at a nearby private school.
At what cost free speech? Creating a safe learning space for students and their parents
Reflected the educator, ‘I really don’t know what is next for me, as the teaching profession has been, up to this point in time, all that I ever wanted to do.’
‘It is all I have ever studied for and teaching is what has defined me. Even advancing my education with a master’s degree in educational leadership because I wanted to become the best teacher I can be.’
While the incident has led to many decrying the educator, for his lack of sensitivity and perceived bias as a teacher, amid a fraught political environment, others meanwhile have supported the thwarted educator.
Opined a social media commentator, ‘Agree or disagree, he’s got a right to his opinion same as the anti-ICE people do. As long as no one is getting violent they are entitled to their opinions.’
Reflected another, ‘The pendulum has completely swung to a society that supports breaking laws instead of supporting law enforcement.’
Stated another, ‘It’s not the children who are traumatized. It is their leftist parents.’
In the interim a GoFundme has been created to support the ousted teacher. As of Sunday a GoFundme had raised $57K on behalf of Heidorn.
