Eric Rivera

Eric Rivera is a devout Christian and longtime teacher who currently instructs first-grade students at KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his position at KIPP, Eric taught at Christian schools in Florida for many years.

As part of the first-grade curriculum, teachers read students a book featuring a same-sex married couple and their daughter. Eric, due to his sincere religious beliefs, could not in good conscience read this book to his students. Knowing this, Eric switched periods with a colleague on the day when the book would be read. However, after the book had already been read to the students, the principal called Eric into her office and threatened to fire him should he not forfeit his beliefs and agree to teach all books in the curriculum regardless of his convictions. He was told he must “maintain fidelity” with the school’s worldview.

After this, Eric sought religious accommodation, unwilling to back down from his faith. He was then reassigned to a technology position, and then back to a kindergarten teaching position. The school is sending a message that Eric cannot teach first grade unless he violates his religious beliefs. First Liberty Institute sent a letter demanding that the school clear Eric’s record and implement policies that protect religious liberty.

In the demand letter attorneys state, “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 established that it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against any individual with respect to religion and also requires employers to accommodate employees’ religious practices unless doing so would impose an “undue hardship” on the conduct of the employer’s business.”  The letter continues, “KIPP cannot demonstrate any undue hardship here.  Therefore, KIPP failed to reasonably accommodate Mr. Rivera in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.”

“Requiring a teacher violate their religious beliefs in order to keep their job is blatant discrimination that violates the Civil Rights Act,” said Cliff Martin, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute. “Our client cares deeply about his students and simply has a religious objection to teaching certain lessons and asked for a simple religious accommodation. The school has sent the message that anyone who has a traditional view of marriage is unfit to teach first grade.”

After receiving the letter from First Liberty, the school responded and has agreed to clear Eric Rivera’s record after previously issuing a “final warning letter” and removing him from his first grade teaching position. The school also agreed to “permit all teachers to ask another employee to read materials objectionable to their faith.”

“We are pleased that the school has made the right decision by accommodating Mr. Rivera for his deeply held religious views,” said Cliff Martin, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute. “Our client is deeply devoted to teaching and is grateful that his record has been cleared and reasonable accommodations will be provided going forward.”