Parents in Springfield are voicing concerns after an incident allegedly involving a mathematics teacher from the Academy of Arts and Academics (A3), a public charter school in downtown Springfield.

According to an interview conducted by journalist Rick Dancer, a parent said she dropped her daughter off at school on Wednesday morning when the student observed her math teacher across the street, topless, with the words “Anti Racist, Anti Fascist” written across her chest and stomach.

The student reportedly reacted by saying, “Gross, that’s my math teacher,” before heading into class. The mother later described the situation as “awkward” for her child.

That Oregon Life contacted Brian Richardson, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Springfield Public Schools, who returned our call promptly. Richardson emphasized the district’s priorities, stating: “Our focus remains on delivering a high-quality education for our students. I always want to make sure that we’re focused on giving students the education that our community has come to expect.” He confirmed that an email addressing the incident had been sent to families. When asked whether any disciplinary measures were being taken against the staff member involved, Richardson declined to provide details, noting only, “I’ve shared everything that I can.”

The demonstration was photographed. Community members have since questioned whether such behavior is appropriate for an educator. Some parents argue that political or protest activity by teachers should not spill over into the school environment, while others maintain that teachers have the same rights to free expression as other citizens.

The Springfield School District has not yet released a statement regarding the alleged incident outside A3. In an email sent to A3 families on September 19, Springfield Public Schools acknowledged the situation:

**“Recently, a news story circulated in local media regarding a Springfield Public Schools staff member who participated in a protest. The protest took place off school grounds and outside of working hours. The staff member engaged in expressive activity that included topless protest with words written on their body. An image from this protest was shared by local media.

We recognize that this may raise questions or concerns among families. While employees, like all individuals, have rights to free expression as private citizens outside of work, we also understand that seeing such stories can impact our school community.

Our priority remains the education, safety, and well-being of your children. We are committed to ensuring that all SPS schools continue to be welcoming, respectful, and professional environments focused on student learning.

If you or your child have questions or need support in discussing media coverage of this event, please reach out to myself or our counselor.”**

— Email signed by Ame, Springfield Public Schools

Not all families were reassured by the district’s response. A parent of an A3 student, who asked to remain anonymous, shared their concern:

“This is the email I got. When I called the school, they said that it wasn’t a recent incident, and it was outside of school hours and not on school property, and tried to brush it under the rug.”

This incident comes at a time when the Springfield School District is already under scrutiny. Recently, a Thurston High School teacher was under scrutiny after reportedly making inappropriate comments regarding the death of political commentator Charlie Kirk. Parents in Pleasant Hill have also voiced concerns about remarks allegedly made by a school counselor on the same topic.

Oregon currently ranks near the bottom nationally in several education metrics, and some parents say controversies like these distract from academics. “It feels like the district is just going to sweep this under the rug,” one parent told Dancer.

The Larger Debate

At the heart of this issue lies an ongoing conflict in Oregon and across the country: whether educators should bring their political views into the classroom — and how far their rights to personal expression extend when their professional role is tied to children’s education.

Supporters of teachers’ free speech rights argue that educators are also private citizens who should not lose their ability to protest or express personal beliefs outside of school hours. Critics, however, say that when those expressions cross into controversial or graphic territory, they can undermine trust with families and distract from the core mission of education.

For Springfield parents, the topless protest by an A3 teacher has reignited that debate. While the district maintains that the protest was off-campus and off-the-clock, families are left asking a difficult question: Where should the line be drawn between political activism and professional responsibility in Oregon’s classrooms?