Home » Opinions » Katie Rinderle GoFundMe: Why was the fundraiser set up and how much has it collected so far?

All you should know about why Katie Rinderle’s GoFundMe fundraiser was set up and the amount that has been raised

Katie Rinderle was an elementary school teacher at the Due West Elementary School in Georgia whose employment has been terminated by the Cobb County School Board for Education in a vote of 4-3, which has now overruled the tribunal’s decision not to fire her.

Katie Rinderle
Katie Rinderle

This incident took place when Katie Rinderle read out a book, “My Shadow is Purple,” in front of her fifth-grade students. The book is written by Scott Stuart. The book talks about gender inequality and states an individual’s shadow of their parents, such as pink for a mother’s shadow and blue for a father’s shadow, but the book goes on to say that if someone is not able to relate to these two shadows, then their shadow is purple, and the book evolves around accepting oneself.

Katie defended herself by saying that it was a mutual decision by the students to read the book, and she insisted on writing a poem in their shadows. It is expected that Katie will appeal against the board’s decision and fight back.

Why was the fundraiser set up and how much has it collected so far?

A fundraiser titled “Help Katie Rinderle” has been set up by Sarah Anderson, a friend and supporter of Katie. The whole issue has been narrated there, and a statement states that parents complained regarding the content mentioned in the book and found it offensive, and later on, Katie was informed that she would be fired for her actions.

But, Katie refused to resign and was fighting against an unjust termination. She doesn’t have any health insurance, and she’s unemployed at the moment, which is why a GoFundMe has been set up to help out the elementary teacher.

The details mentioned on the GoFundMe page state that the fundraiser has raised $23,120 out of a target of $50,000. Katie was unhappy with the decision in her case and stated that it was all about inclusivity and self-acceptance and that her statements were being politicized and interpreted unfairly. She can now file an appeal with the State Board of Education and seek legal remedies.

Read More: