North Texas teacher who was removed after wearing dress to school resigns

This blog originally appeared at KERA NEWS.

This teacher wore a dress on Sprit Day, didn’t break any LISD guidelines, and got forced out of his job.

Following a leave of absence prompted by wearing a dress on Spirit Day, a teacher from Hebron High School has chosen to resign.

Expressing gratitude in a letter forwarded by Lewisville ISD to KERA, Rachmad Tjachyadi thanked the Hebron Hawks community for their unwavering support during recent weeks. Tjachyadi cited love for the school and its students as the primary motivation behind the decision not to return, emphasizing that any adult disagreements overshadowing student welfare warranted stepping away.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on the conservative social media platform Libs of TikTok, showing the chemistry teacher in a pink dress at school. Despite a reported petition with over 20,000 signatures in support of “Mt. T,” the district confirmed there were no specific policies regarding staff attire during themed days following a thorough review.

Acknowledging the support from Lewisville ISD and the findings of the investigation, Tjachyadi highlighted the impact of external negativity on his decision. Emphasizing ownership of the decision to depart from Hebron, Tjachyadi expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by colleagues, students, and the district.

The resignation has left uncertainty regarding potential reinstatement efforts, as demonstrated by a rally and disruption at a recent Lewisville ISD board briefing. Some protesters indicated intentions to return at the next board meeting on March 18 in support of “Mr. T.”

In a letter addressed to parents, Hebron High School principal Amy Broughton announced the school’s search for a permanent replacement for Tjachyadi. While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, Broughton stressed the importance of respecting Tjachyadi’s decision and offering unwavering support.