Lehi teacher, school part ways amid backlash over TikTok video
LEHI, Utah (KUTV) — The Lehi teacher at the center of a controversial TikTok video and the Renaissance Academy have mutually agreed to part ways.
In a statement from executive director Mark Ursic, he confirmed teacher Jenna Hall tendered her resignation over three weeks ago.
The school agreed to accept her resignation Friday after several days of discussion amid mounting national attention.
“Jenna Hall previously submitted her resignation for the 2022-2023 school year on April 19, 2022. Subsequent to the investigation completed earlier this week, we have mutually agreed to end our employment relationship for the current school year, effective immediately,” Ursic said in a statement to KUTV.
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School officials told 2News Hall was placed on leave when a Twitter account reposted a video of her describing interactions with students who she said identified as "queer."
"My kids from last year are now in fifth grade, and they come visit me almost everyday after school," Hall said in the video. "A lot of them are queer, because I am queer, and they figured it out, so I’ve become their safe space."
She talked about how she could never have conversations about sexuality when she was in grade school.
"I’m so happy that they are figuring out who they are, and that they are happy with who they are, and that they’ve found a safe place," she said. "But man, I could never imagine being in fifth-grade saying these things out loud, even though I know they’re all OK."
