Iowa Teacher Resigns After Being Fired as Track Coach [VIDEO]

Abby Fliehler was fired as the head girl's track coach in Denver, Iowa in June. After a campaign to get her reinstated failed, Fliehler is now resigning from her teaching position.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Fliehler turned in her resignation letter on September 13th with a two-week notice, making her last day teaching in the district September 27th. Her resignation comes after the school board unanimously decided not to renew her coaching contract. Fliehler didn't learn of the decision until seeing a screenshot of the meeting minutes.

Why did the Denver School District no longer want Abby Fliehler leading the girl's track team? The Courier reports that Fliehler believes that her termination was caused by the tension created by her and other coaches after multiple reports about equity, sexism, racism, and sexual harassment. Amanda Goodman, the Executive Director of Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County stated in a Facebook post that it appears Abby angered people simply by " speaking up and advocating for her students."

Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this story is that despite the overwhelming community support for Fliehler and multiple attempts to get the school board to reconsider her dismissal, no action was taken. No reason for her firing was ever given. The public deserves to know why this well-liked coach was let go.

I'm a father of two teenage daughters. I'm trying to raise them and teach them to never be afraid to speak your mind. To tell others of injustices you see or experience as a woman. We encourage young women to be leaders and speak loudly. But then when they do, and some don't like what they hear, we dismiss them?

Abby Fliehler deserves better. Our children deserve better.