Alexi C. Cardona

alexi.cardona@naplesnews.com; 239-403-6153

A teacher at Parkside Elementary School in East Naples was transferred to administrative duties Thursday after making a social media post supporting mass deportation.

The Facebook post referred to "A Day Without Immigrants," a demonstration that called for immigrants to stay home from school and work Thursday to show the contributions they make to the U.S. economy and culture.

The teacher, Veronica Fleming, shared a Chicago Tribune article about the protest and posted:

"The funny part about immigrants staying home is the rest of us who pay for them are here at work like we've always been. Looks like less mouths to feed today. Have fun while you still can. So glad to hear about massive deportation. Let's make America great again. Thanks Donald Trump!!"

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Fleming was an instructional resource teacher who ran a computer lab at the school and taught students about technology, said Greg Turchetta, a spokesman for Collier County Public Schools.

Parkside Elementary is in the Naples Manor community, and 96 percent of the students are minorities.

"This is a very tight-knit neighborhood school that stands for inclusion," Turchetta said. "The teachers have nothing but love for these students. Anything else is not a reflection of the school."

Fleming has been reassigned to the district's administrative offices, pending an investigation. Turchetta said the district thinks she made the post during school hours, but that was being investigated.

Attempts to reach Fleming were unsuccessful Thursday.

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Parents who saw the social media post contacted the school about Fleming's comments.

Gabriela Marquez has two kids enrolled at Parkside Elementary. She was on a lunch break at work when her sister sent a message about the post. Marquez called the school and talked to the principal.

"The whole school was hurt about the comment," Marquez said. "Most of the students are Latinos. No one understands why she would comment something like that."

Marquez's kids told her the principal went on the school's afternoon announcements to tell the students they were loved and that a teacher made a mistake. The principal had Fleming delete the comment from her Facebook page, Marquez said.

"My kids love this school," Marquez said. "My husband and I love this school. We know the teachers love their students. This was just one bad teacher.

"What hurts is that Ms. Fleming works at an elementary school. These are little kids. What is she teaching them? How was she treating them just because they're Latinos?"

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Marquez said she would not want to keep her children enrolled at the school if Fleming were allowed to return.

An online petition created by parents on change.org calls for Fleming to be fired.

"We understand that as a private citizen Mrs. Fleming should be allowed to express herself, however, as an educator at a school composed of predominantly Hispanic, Haitian, and students of other minorities, one should always be professional and behave as an impartial authority figure that is held to higher standards," the petition states.