A Washington state high school teacher is back in the classroom after being placed on administrative leave for posting a controversial TikTok video earlier this year.
The Issaquah School District confirmed that Issaquah High School Spanish teacher Kelsey Early returned to her position on October 17, 2025.
Early had been placed on leave following the circulation of a TikTok video in which she sang profane lyrics criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Trump to the tune of the National Anthem.
In the video, Early sang “F*ck ICE and F*ck Trump, Free Palestine” while using the melody of the National Anthem.
She also indicated her desire to make similar alterations to the Pledge of Allegiance in her classroom.
The district provided a statement exclusively to The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI addressing the matter.
The statement confirmed that the district had completed its review of the staff matter at Issaquah High School.
“Following this process, the teacher returned to the classroom on Oct. 17, 2025,” the district stated.
“The district and school community recognize this has been a challenging situation and remain focused on maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment where instruction stays purposeful, productive, and positive for all students.”
Early’s absence from the classroom was characterized as a non-disciplinary leave while district officials conducted their investigation into the incident.
When the leave was initially announced, the district had addressed the balance between employee rights and professional responsibilities.
The district acknowledged both First Amendment rights and the teacher’s cooperation during the process.
“State law and district regulations require that staff expression not interfere with the orderly operation of schools or students’ education,” the district stated at that time.
“As a result, the district is placing the employee on non-disciplinary leave pending the outcome of an investigation.”
The district also indicated that it would remind staff members of regulations and laws governing expression in schools.
Parents within the Issaquah community have expressed frustration over the decision to reinstate Early, The Post Millennial (TPM) reported.
Issaquah has one of the largest Israeli and Jewish populations in Western Washington.
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TPM further noted that the Issaquah School District has faced ongoing debates concerning anti-Israel sentiment since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
Earlier in October, anti-Israel student groups coordinated walkouts at several Seattle-area schools and colleges on Oct. 7.
These walkouts were organized to mark what participants described as the “great achievement” of the Hamas-led massacre in Israel, following the announcement of the Trump administration’s ceasefire and peace deal.
Groups including “Issaquah Student League” and “WA Walkout for Palestine” promoted the event with flyers encouraging students to leave class.
The promotional materials marked the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attack.
The groups’ stated demands included abolishing Israel in favor of “one state from the river to the sea,” ending US aid, and releasing convicted Palestinian terrorists.
The flyers characterized the Oct. 7 atrocities as “heroic Palestinian resistance” and “one of the most important events of our lifetime.”
The attacks resulted in more than 1,200 deaths, 250 kidnappings, and thousands of injuries.
Issaquah High School principal Erin Connolly sent an email to parents informing them of the planned walkout.
The email clarified that students who participated by leaving class would receive unexcused absences.
Connolly’s message emphasized that the school would not tolerate harassment, bullying or vandalism in connection with the protest activity.
School officials also had to address protest posters that were illegally glued to school property, requiring removal by staff.
