A public high school teacher in upstate New York has been placed on paid administrative leave after agreeing to serve as faculty adviser for a student-led chapter affiliated with Turning Point USA.
Jennifer Fasulo, a Spanish teacher at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, near Syracuse, has been out of the classroom since January 30.
The Baldwinsville Central School District confirmed her leave in a February 10 letter to parents, stating:
“The district can confirm that a staff member has been placed on paid administrative leave while a matter is under review.
“We are following established administrative and legal procedures, and we are unable to comment further or share additional details at this time.”
The district did not specify the nature of the review or provide a timeline for resolution.
Student-Initiated Club
Supporters of Fasulo say the request to form the club came directly from students.
According to reporting by the New York Post, students sought to establish a chapter of Turning Point USA, or a related “Club America” group, on campus.
They asked Fasulo to serve as faculty adviser.
Former Republican state Senate candidate Caleb Slater, who has publicly supported Fasulo, stated:
“These are students who asked for this organization to be founded, not parents or teachers.”
Public high schools commonly host a variety of student organizations across the political and ideological spectrum, each typically requiring a faculty adviser.
School Board Meeting and Community Response
At a February 9 Baldwinsville school board meeting, Club America President Jerry Dygert addressed the board directly:
“This teacher is being targeted not because of her performance, but for her political beliefs.”
A petition calling for Fasulo’s reinstatement has gathered more than 2,100 signatures.
Some parents have also voiced support on social media platforms.
Slater has argued that the situation sends a broader message about ideological expression in schools, though the district has not commented beyond its initial statement.
Competing Claims
Some have suggested that Fasulo’s leave may stem from a separate incident involving a student interaction connected to an after-school Christian youth group.
An unnamed parent reportedly alleged that Fasulo questioned her daughter about her sexual orientation during that context.
The district has not confirmed any such allegation or indicated whether it is related to the current review.
As of now, the school district has not provided a formal explanation for Fasulo’s administrative leave.
Ongoing Review
The case has drawn attention locally as students and parents await further information.
Without an official explanation from the district, questions remain regarding the circumstances behind the decision and whether Fasulo will return to the classroom.
The matter remains under review by the Baldwinsville Central School District.
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