Cobb County has become ground zero in the fight over President Trump’s executive order regarding inappropriate books in public schools. A far-left national opposition group has filed an appeal on behalf of a fired teacher, escalating the legal battle.
On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order stating:
“…young men and women are made to question whether they were born in the wrong body and whether to view their parents and their reality as enemies to be blamed. These practices not only erode critical thinking but also sow division, confusion, and distrust, which undermine the very foundations of personal identity and family unity.”
The order goes on to reaffirm that federal laws are designed to protect parental rights, and school boards must comply if they receive federal funds for K-12 education. Click here for the full executive order.
Legal Battle Over Fired Cobb Teacher Intensifies
Locally, the attorney for fired Cobb County elementary school teacher Mike Tafelski has filed an appeal on behalf of Katie Rinderle, seeking to overturn the latest court ruling by Cobb County Superior Court Judge Kimberley Childs, who upheld Rinderle’s termination.
The former Cobb County School District (CCSD) teacher was dismissed for reading My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart—a book that claims traditional gender identities extend beyond male and female. While Rinderle was assigned to teach fifth-grade gifted students, My Shadow is Purple is recommended for kindergarteners. This discrepancy has led many to question whether she was incompetent in managing age-appropriate material or was pushing a political agenda to indoctrinate students.
Criticism Mounts Against Rinderle’s Actions
Parents and educators on social media have openly questioned why a competent teacher of gifted students would select a kindergarten-level picture book as an academic challenge for high-achieving students. Critics argue that Rinderle knowingly violated district policy prohibiting teachers from instructing students on sensitive topics.
Multiple online reviewers confirm that My Shadow is Purple promotes challenges to traditional gender norms. In the end, the Cobb Superior Court upheld her termination.
Rinderle and her legal team, backed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), have now petitioned the Georgia Court of Appeals to review Judge Childs’ ruling. Her attorneys filed the discretionary application for appeal on March 3, 2025.
Widespread Institutional Support for Firing
Beyond a panel of three former public-school employees who heard the case, every other institutional body has upheld Rinderle’s termination, including:
- The Cobb County Board of Education
- Georgia’s State Board of Education
- The Cobb County Superior Court
Even the three former school employees who initially reviewed the case admitted that Rinderle exercised poor judgment by selecting the book without administrative approval. However, they did not believe it warranted termination.
SPLC’s Political Ties to Cobb County School Board Races
The SPLC has a long history of legal battles against the Cobb County Board of Education. In addition to filing multiple lawsuits against the district, the organization has actively worked to unseat board incumbents, launching political websites, mailing campaign literature, and endorsing opposition candidates.
Rinderle’s attorney, Mike Tafelski, has also raised eyebrows for inserting himself into the political side of the controversy, making social media comments that have drawn local scrutiny .
Federal Lawsuit Also in Play
Separately, Rinderle remains the lead plaintiff in a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Cobb County School District, filed in February 2024. This pending lawsuit, also backed by the SPLC, has no bearing on her appeal. Click here to read the federal lawsuit.
As the case moves forward, Cobb County Schools remains a national focal point in the fight over parental rights, school policies, and President Trump’s executive order.
