In 2023, Taryn Israelson, a teacher at J.R. Smith Elementary in Heber City, UT, was granted approval from the Human Resources manager to begin a voluntary prayer chain in which individuals could opt-in to be prayed for and to pray for others. Her principal agreed. Following this, she posted a sign in the school faculty lounge to invite faculty members to participate in the prayer chain. The faculty lounge provides members a place to gather and socialize during breaks and post personal signs on the refrigerators advertising community plays, announcing weddings and baby showers, sharing motivational phrases, and engaging in other forms of personal expression.
She continued the practice of her prayer chain up until this year, when a new school principal told her to stop this religious expression and forced her to remove it. The principal complained that the prayer list was “in everybody’s faces.”
In response, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the school district on Taryn’s behalf, urging officials to reverse their decision.
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute. “The principal’s actions demonstrate hostility towards religious expression which the Supreme Court has consistently said is unconstitutional.”
In the letter, attorneys state that “[t]he First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by individuals acting on their own behalf. The Supreme Court has explained “there is a crucial difference between government speech endorsing religion, which the Establishment Clause forbids, and private speech endorsing religion, which the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses protect.” Bd. of Educ. v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226, 250 (1990) (plurality).
Shortly after receiving the demand letter, the school administration office responded stating that Taryn would be allowed place her prayer chain flyer back in the teacher’s lounge.
News Release
For Immediate Release: 5.05.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Utah School District Will Now Allow First Grade Teacher to Post Prayer Chain Invitation in Faculty Lounge
After a review by the school superintendent and board members, the prayer chain will be returned in a space provided for employee notices.
Heber City, UT—First Liberty Institute and the law firm Mayer Brown LLP announced that the Wasatch County (UT) School District will now allow first grade teacher Taryn Israelson to post a voluntary prayer support chain in the school’s faculty lounge after she was previously told it must be removed.
“This is the right decision by the school officials in light of Supreme Court decisions that have repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute. “Taryn’s example should send a message to all public school districts that the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses doubly protect private religious speech.”
Taryn Israelson, a teacher at J.R. Smith Elementary, began a voluntary prayer chain in which individuals could opt-in to be prayed for and to pray for others. She posted a sign in the school faculty lounge two years ago to invite faculty members to participate. The faculty lounge provides members a place to gather and socialize during breaks and post personal signs on the refrigerators advertising community plays, announcing weddings and baby showers, sharing motivational phrases, and engaging in other forms of personal expression. She continued the practice of her prayer chain this year until the school principal, told her to stop the religious expression and forced her to remove it.
In response to a demand letter to the school, the decision was reversed, and the prayer chain will be returned to the teacher’s lounge.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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