Sarah Chambers, an eighth-year teacher at Saucedo Academy, is fighting an indefinite suspension by Chicago Public Schools. (Chicago Tonight)

Students, teachers and community members gathered outside a Little Village elementary school Tuesday to call for the reinstatement of an outspoken Chicago Public Schools teacher who has been removed from her classroom and faces termination.

A co-chair of the Chicago Teachers Union’s Special Education Taskforce, Chambers also works on CTU’s Executive Board and bargaining team. Though she hasn’t received a full explanation for the suspension, the union says it’s been told the discipline stems from PARCC assessment testing this spring.

“The Union is aware that CPS recently sent one of its Executive Board members and leading activists, Sarah Chambers, a letter removing her from Saucedo Scholastic Academy,” union spokesman Ronnie Reese said.

“The letter did not include an explanation for her removal. CPS Labor Relations Officer Joe Moriarty contacted CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey and said CPS was moving to fire Ms. Chambers because of reasons related to the PARCC test.”

Chambers called that an “outrageous claim,” saying she followed all district testing protocol. She and the union instead believe the suspension is a retaliatory move by the district against Chambers for her union activity.

Now: Rally for @Sarah4Justice. Photo via @yourbuddychris: 100 students, parents, teachers, politicians demand CPS #LetSarahTeach pic.twitter.com/DCUgdxKotS

— Chicago Rising (@ChicagoRising) April 18, 2017

CPS says teachers are required to follow both Chicago and Illinois State Board of Education policies. But the district has not said specifically what rules Chambers is accused of violating, saying only that it took “disciplinary steps in Ms. Chambers' case because she did not.”

“Ms. Chambers engaged in misconduct that created cause to move to dismiss her,” CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in an email.

The district goes on to say that Chambers can take her case to an independent ISBE hearing officer. It appears that’s the next step for Chambers, who said she has CTU attorneys representing her and sounded confident in her chances to succeed.

“I know I’m going to win the case,” she said. “I just hope to return to the classroom quickly.”

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