Chicago teacher on leave over ‘GO ICE’ Facebook post
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FIRST ON FOX: A Chicago-area teacher is on administrative leave and facing calls to lose his job over a Facebook post last week offering support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“GO ICE,” the teacher at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago posted on Facebook last week. Shortly after the post was posted, activists in the largely Hispanic community quickly began sharing the post and calling for action against the teacher, who Fox News Digital is not naming for safety reasons.
“Imagine working as a teacher in an elementary school on the west side of Chicago, where the Latino community is very populous, and you are promoting ICE, sick AF,” one social media post said.
Another commenter called the teacher a “fucking piece of shit.”
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Gary Elementary School in West, Chicago (Google Maps)
Activists began circulating a flyer online, with a Change.org petitioncalling for the employee’s continued employment and for students to stay home from school in protest, saying “the casual manner in which he has publicly promoted ICE’s actions in our area is inappropriate and unbecoming of an educator.”
“The best way to show our district that we need to take action is to show them that keeping this teacher will disrupt the emotional well-being and, therefore, education of our students,” the flyer states.
Fox News Digital could not independently locate the employee’s comment or the Facebook post to which the employee was responding and his account appears to have been deleted. The Change.org petition describes the comment as “a response to a community post.”
Local leaders also got involved, including Karina Villa, Illinois state senator representing the 25th District, who posted a message saying she stood in “unwavering solidarity” with families upset by “disturbing comments allegedly made by an educator.”
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An ICE agent is seen standing in front of a home in a residential neighborhood. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Villa went on to acknowledge that free speech is a “protected right,” but “as educators, we have a responsibility to our students and their families to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.”
In an email sent to parents by district Superintendent Kristina Davis and obtained by Fox News Digital, the district explains that “the employee submitted a written resignation” on Friday before an investigation could take place, but the employee then withdrew his resignation before the board could approve it, allowing him to come to work Monday.
“The district has requested legal counsel to conduct an investigation which will begin Monday,” Davis wrote. “The district will share additional information as appropriate. District 33 remains committed to providing safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership.”
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Skyline of Chicago, Illinois. (iStock)
Fox News Digital has reached out to West Chicago Elementary School District 33 for comment and details on what, if anything, the teacher violated by posting support for law enforcement on Facebook.
The City of West Chicago held a “listening session” on Monday at the request of Mayor Daniel Bovey, attended by a Spanish translator, during which various parents and residents expressed concerns about the message, including one woman who said “kids don’t feel safe” because of the message and another woman who said the message was “cruel.”
On Monday afternoon, a district spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the teacher was placed on leave after a Monday meeting.
“On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the District became aware of concerns regarding a disruptive social media comment made by a District employee on their personal account,” the statement said. “The teacher initially tendered his resignation. Later that day, he withdrew his resignation before the Board had a chance to take action.”
The statement continued: “Following a meeting with District administration today, the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation and will not be permitted access to any District property while on leave.”
“We understand that this situation has caused concern and disruption for students, families and staff. We want to ensure our schools are safe spaces and we look forward to seeing all students back in school tomorrow. Thank you for your patience, trust and partnership during the ongoing investigation.”
The spokesperson did not respond when asked by Fox News Digital what specific policies the teacher potentially violated by supporting law enforcement on Facebook.
