First-Grade Teacher Says He Was Threatened With Termination After Refusing to Read LGBTQ book to Students

A first-grade teacher in Nashville says he was given a written “final warning” after declining to personally read a book included in his school’s language arts curriculum and instead arranging for a colleague to read it to his students while he remained in the classroom.

The situation was reported by Fox News, which cited statements from the teacher and from First Liberty Institute, a legal organization representing him.

What Reportedly Happened in the Classroom

According to the Fox News report, the teacher, Eric Rivera, was scheduled to read a book from the approved language arts curriculum that included a same-sex marriage theme.

Rivera said he informed school administrators that reading the book conflicted with his personal beliefs. On the day the lesson was scheduled, he asked a colleague to read the book to his first-grade class while he stayed in the room and observed.

Rivera has said that this approach allowed students to receive the assigned lesson while he did not personally read the material.

The “Final Warning” Letter

Fox News reported that the day after the lesson, Rivera was called into the principal’s office. According to First Liberty Institute, he was told his job could be in jeopardy and later received a written “final warning.”

The report states that the warning letter accused Rivera of failing to teach the curriculum “with fidelity” and said that further disciplinary action could include termination.

First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the school requesting that it preserve documents related to curriculum adoption and enforcement, according to the Fox News report.

The School’s Position

Fox News reported that school officials emphasized that teachers are expected to follow approved curriculum materials.

The school did not publicly announce a final employment decision regarding Rivera at the time of the report. Rivera remains employed, according to the article.

Why the Story Is Drawing Attention

The situation has sparked debate over how schools handle curriculum disputes and what accommodations, if any, should be made when a teacher objects to assigned materials.

Supporters of Rivera argue that because a colleague read the book to students while he observed, the lesson was still delivered and students did not miss instruction.

Others argue that once curriculum is approved, teachers are expected to present it as assigned to maintain consistency across classrooms.

The case has become part of a broader conversation about curriculum standards, teacher responsibilities, and how schools respond when disagreements arise over instructional content.