In 2020, Kimberly Ann Polk applied to become a substitute teacher in the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. She was hired in 2021 with the understanding that she could be called to fill in anywhere in the district, and there were no complaints about her performance that first year. She did the job and planned to keep doing it.
When the 2022-2023 school year began, she had to complete some basic training modules online, including one that reminded subs of the school board’s policies. One of them concerned transgender students: The board policy made clear that all teachers should respect students’ gender identities, use their preferred names and pronouns, and keep that information confidential like they would any medical issues.
Polk refused to e-sign the paperwork that said she accepted the policy. She cited her “sincerely held religious beliefs… based on her understanding of her Christian religion and the Holy Bible.”
So she asked for some kind of religious accommodation. When speaking with a district staffer about that, one possibility was that she could only substitute teach in lower grades . . .
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