NorCal teacher who knelt during homecoming rally placed on leave

In this Oct. 2, 2016 file photo, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, left, and safety Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers won't be forcing their players to stand during the national anthem, safety Eric Reid said Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. less In this Oct. 2, 2016 file photo, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, left, and safety Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, ... more Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press Image 1 of / 22 Caption Close NorCal teacher who knelt during homecoming rally placed on leave 1 / 22 Back to Gallery

A Yolo County high school teacher was placed on paid leave after kneeling during the national anthem, administrators said.

Woodland High School chemistry teacher Windy Pappas took a knee at a Friday homecoming rally as the speakers blared the "Star Spangled Banner." She held two signs reading, "Black Lives Matter" and "It's OK to disagree with every sign here," according to a photo of the protest circulating on social media.

Yesterday at My Son's High School, Woodland High, this Woman, Windy Pappas, a teacher, was suspended for kneeling during... Posted by Amy Plunkett on Saturday, October 14, 2017

The assembly continued without incident after Pappas' protest. Later in the afternoon and through Monday Pappas was placed on paid leave while administration conducted an investigation, said Woodland Joint Unified School District spokesperson Callie Lutz. Pappas returned to the classroom Tuesday.

SFGATE could not immediately reach Pappas for comment, but the teacher told Woodland's the Daily Democrat that she encourages "students to express their opinions" and that she had told them her plans to kneel prior to the assembly.

"I really feel like my students that are in my classroom know that. I told my students that all lives matter," she said.

Woodland High parent Amy Plunkett told SFGATE that she supports Pappas' protest and felt administration treated her unjustly.

"Minority students are afraid to speak up here it seems, and I'm grateful that what she did has started a dialogue in the community," Plunkett said. "Many people still do not understand what the movement is truly about. By her taking action, many are finally educating themselves and changing perspective."

Lutz said the district hopes to use this incident as "a learning opportunity."

She said, "As a district, we fully support the free speech rights of our students and appropriate involvement of staff in facilitating conversations in school."

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