A former Duval County teacher who is banned from working for the district will fight for the chance to continue teaching in Florida.

Newly-released documents from Duval County Public Schools reveal why teacher Amy Donofrio was removed from her classroom duties at the formerly-named Robert E. Lee High School, amid the heated battle over the future of the school’s name.

The Duval County School Board paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against the school district by a former teacher who claims the district retaliated against her and violated her right to free speech.

During its meeting on Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board voted in favor of a settlement agreement in a civil case brought against the district by Amy Donofrio -- one of its teachers.

During its meeting on Tuesday night, the Duval County Public Schools board is scheduled to vote on a settlement agreement in a civil case brought against the district by one of its teachers, Amy Donofrio.

During a speech at a private conservative college last week, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran referenced Amy Donofrio, a Jacksonville teacher who generated controversy after she was removed from her classroom in March.

Duval County Public Schools is being sued after an award-winning teacher was removed from her classroom.

The principal of Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School opened up to students on Friday about the administration’s controversial decision to remove a teacher’s Black Lives Matter flag from the school’s hallway, the resulting plans by students to stage a protest of that decision, and a strategy to help students voice their concerns directly to him.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools has administratively reassigned Amy Donofrio, the Lee High School teacher who garnered attention this week after she refused to take down a “Black Lives Matter” flag that was hanging outside her classroom. The district confirmed Donofrio was reassigned to paid, non-teaching duties Thursday. The district said it has also opened a human resources investigation to review “allegations of potential misconduct” under school board policy. Donofrio told News4Jax she would not take down the sign, but according to her, the sign was taken down by administrators. The removal of the flag caused students at the school to attempt a demonstration on Wednesday, but the protest was squashed by school administrators.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The final scheduled meeting to discuss potentially renaming Robert E. Lee High School in Duval County brought more than 100 people out to share their feelings. Ad“We need a change, and the people here in this room today are for that change,” said another student. As such, I am devastated by yesterday’s order to remove me from Lee High School and place me under disciplinary investigation,” she said. AdOthers disagree and say Lee High has too much history to be renamed. The School Advisory Committee will meet on April 5 to finalize up to five name recommendations to include on a ballot.

Students at the school told News4Jax they had planned to stage a “peaceful assembly” Wednesday morning in response to a school administrator’s removal of a the flag. A Lee High School senior said the school’s staff prevented the demonstration from happening. In response to Lee High School admin ordering a teacher to take down their BLM flag, students are creating their own “replacements” and hanging them around campus. This screenshot shows a Nov. 7, 2020 Facebook post by Amy Donofrio, a teacher at Robert E. Lee High School. The screenshot was taken from a Feb. 12, 2021 Instagram post from Lee High School senior class president Deyona Burton as she walks along side principal Timothy Feagins.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Robert E. Lee High School teacher told News4Jax that she was instructed by administrators to remove a “Black Lives Matter” flag from her classroom on Tuesday. The report focused on a viral video compilation of various clips recorded at Lee High School’s auditorium during public discussions on whether or not to rename the school. Hours after the post, Donofrio said principal Timothy Feagins told her to take the flag down by the end of the day. She said the school’s administrators told her that she has to take the banner down or the school custodians will do it. AdThis screenshot shows a Nov. 7, 2020 Facebook post by Amy Donofrio, a teacher at Robert E. Lee High School.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A compilation of video clips from the recent public meetings at Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School garnered wide attention online, featuring controversial comments from some alumni speakers. The video shows 1966 Lee High School alumnus Frank Attaway speaking at the March 4 community meeting at Lee High School. “If this high school is having problems, how long has it been predominantly African American?”The student body at Robert E. Lee High School is 71.5% African American, according to data from the Florida Department of Education. Stuart Middle, Andrew Jackson High School, Jean Ribault High School, Jean Ribault Middle School are also included on the list for consideration. “This kind of bitterness is never assuaged, it only finds another target to attack and it moves on,” Lee High School Class of 1983 alumnus Harrison Conyers said.