Overview
- Ricardo Lopez, a history teacher at Synergy Quantum Academy, says he opened a locked gate to keep students from hurting themselves as they tried to scale a fence during anti-ICE walkouts.
- He was terminated for insubordination within an hour, escorted off campus, and later had his classroom materials delivered to his home.
- Synergy says administrators supervised protests, all students were accounted for, counselors were available, and the school adheres to LAUSD campus-access and safety procedures.
- An excerpt of the co-located campus safety plan cited by the school vests authority in the principal or designee during walkouts but does not explicitly prohibit a staff member from opening a gate, according to documents shared with LAist.
- Students, parents, and community groups have rallied, organized a petition and GoFundMe, and students say another walkout is planned Friday, while Lopez worries the insubordination label could affect his future teaching prospects.