The Grants Pass School District 7 has agreed to a $650,000 settlement with two former educators, Rachel Sager and Katie Medart, who were fired after speaking out about gender identity education policy. The settlement concludes a multi-year legal battle where the educators alleged violations of their free speech, religious freedom, and equal protection rights.
The settlement for Sager and Medart, represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and the Pacific Justice Institute, was announced on November 14, 2025.
The agreement mandates several actions by the Grants Pass School District, beyond the significant monetary payment for damages and attorneys’ fees:
- Public Acknowledgment: The district will issue a public statement acknowledging that the educators’ wrongful termination fell short of its standards and responsibilities.
- Personnel File Correction: All negative references related to the termination will be removed from their personnel files.
- Future Employment Support: The district will provide positive letters of recommendation for both Sager and Medart.
- Policy Revision: The district must revise its policy to comply with the First Amendment rights of its employees.
Rachel Sager, a former assistant principal, and Katie Medart, a science teacher, worked at North Middle School in Grants Pass. They were suspended and then terminated in 2021 after voicing opinions about local, state, and national gender identity education policy through their grassroots organization, “I Resolve.”
9th Circuit Ruling Paved the Way
The settlement comes after a significant victory for the educators in June, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in their favor. The appellate court partially vacated a lower court’s decision that had initially dismissed the case and remanded it back for trial, recognizing the constitutional merits of the educators’ claims.
ADF Legal Counsel Mathew Hoffmann praised the resolution, stating, “Educators are free to express opinions on fundamental issues of public concern—like gender identity education policy—that implicate the freedoms of teachers, parents, and students.”
Hoffmann added that the settlement is a positive step, acknowledging that “teachers don’t give up their First Amendment rights when they set foot on school property. Public schools can’t retaliate against speech simply because they disagree with what’s said.”
The educators’ organization, “I Resolve,” aimed to propose policy alternatives that they felt better respected the rights of students, parents, and teachers concerning gender identity in the school environment. The district’s decision to settle signals a recognition of the significant First Amendment issues at stake in the case.
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