Two teachers accused of criticizing Donald Trump in California classrooms

Two Inland Empire teachers are finding themselves under fire — and in at least one case, on administrative leave — over comments they’ve made about the 2024 presidential election.

In an incident being shared in conservative circles on social media, a Chino High School English teacher identified online as Clyde Colinco clashed on Election Day with a student over a Trump hat the student wore in class.

Later in the week, a history teacher at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, identified online as Maximiliano Perez, called president-elect Donald Trump a “rapist draft-dodging coward” during a class lecture, according to video shared on social media.

In both cases, the teachers appear to have lost their tempers over voters choosing Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.

“I’m sorry, I have a daughter, I have three nieces, and he’d rape them,” the Chino High teacher is heard saying in a video posted online. “People are voting for him. Christians are voting for him — bunch of losers, fake Christians.”

The teacher asks for security to come to his classroom.

“I have a boy who has a Trump hat on and I’m not going to tolerate it today,” he said. “I don’t care if you have a Harris hat or a Trump hat; you’re out of here.”

According to the Chino Valley Unified School District student handbook, “hats, caps, and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors, unless they are worn for religious or medical reasons.”

Colinco did not respond to requests for comment.

Chino Valley Unified is investigating the recording and the teacher’s conduct, said district spokesperson Andi Johnston, who did not identify the teacher.

“While the district cannot provide details regarding the teacher and potential disciplinary action, district administrators are working with school site personnel to ensure that students are provided with an educational environment where their learning and wellbeing remain the priority,” Johnston wrote.

In the Moreno Valley incident, the teacher also got passionate, based on the recording.

“Has Donald Trump quoted Hitler? Yes,” the Valley View teacher is recorded as saying. “Does he embody some of Hitler’s ideals? Yes.”

The incident is under investigation, according to the Moreno Valley Unified School District.

A Saturday, Nov. 9, email to district parents says “a staff member’s discussion about the election results turned unprofessional.”

“We do not condone the behavior that occurred, and an immediate investigation has been launched. The staff member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this review.

“We recognize the heightened emotions surrounding the current political climate, and we deeply value the diversity of our community, which encompasses a wide range of perspectives and beliefs,” the email continued. “Our goal is to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment that supports all students.”

Perez did not respond to requests for comment.

A petition on Change.org to “Bring back Mr. Perez” had 1,790 signatures as of Tuesday evening, Nov. 12.

Other commenters on the post, some of whom describe themselves as current or former students, praised Perez.

“Mr. Perez is one of the most knowledgeable teachers at Valley. He has increased my knowledge of how the world works greatly during my time in his class,” a poster who listed their name as Cameren Ferguson wrote Nov. 9. “I know that teachers should not speak politics in class, but an instance like this should not cost him his job. Praying to GOD that he stays, Valley would not be smart to lose a quality, cherished mentor like him.”

Valley View students staged a brief protest and walkout Tuesday in support of Perez, waving signs opposing censorship and demanding the district “free Perez” and “save Perez.”

The  teacher was still on administrative leave as of Tuesday afternoon, Moreno Valley Unified spokesperson Alex Sponheim wrote in an email. She did not identify the teacher. Teachers being investigated are routinely placed on paid administrative leave during investigations, whatever the eventual outcome of their case.

California’s students, like the Chino High student wearing a Trump hat, have a constitutional right to express themselves politically, according to David Loy, legal director for the First Amendment Coalition.

“Under the First Amendment, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, public school students — including high school students — retain certain free speech rights at school,” he said. “Generally speaking, public school students have the rights to speak their minds in any way that’s not reasonably likely to lead to disruption at the school.”

And California students have even more rights in this case than most.

California Education Code 48907 says students in public schools can exercise freedom of speech and of the press, “including, but not limited to, the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions, the wearing of buttons, badges, and other insignia, and the right of expression in official publications, whether or not such publications or other means of expression are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities.”

So unless that political expression is likely to cause a substantial disruption — like a riot on campus — students are free to express their political views, Loy said.

“I don’t know if hats are otherwise allowed (in Chino Valley), but if they are … you can’t restrict it, just because you don’t like what it has to say,” Loy said.

In many ways, students have more rights to express themselves than teachers do.

“Teachers are public employees, on the job, working for the government,” Loy said. “When they’re in the classroom, on the job, they’re to follow the (employee) guidelines set forth by the district. It’d be a very different matter if the teacher said it on their own time, outside of class.”