FREDERICK, MD—A social media manager with a Maryland school district was fired last week after a tweet she sent to a student.
On January 5, a Frederick County Public Schools student posted to Twitter, asking the school district to “close school tammarow PLEASE,” as a large storm was approaching the area.
As a reply, the school district’s social media manager, Katie Nash, 34, tweeted back to the student, “but then how would you learn how to spell ‘tomorrow’? :)”
By the time now she was told to delete the tweet by district officials, the tweet had already gained 1400 likes and 1100 re-tweets on the social media site.
The original student Nash’s tweet was addressed to expressed via Twitter that he did not take Nash’s tweet personally.
On Friday, January 13, at a school district meeting, Director of Communications, Michael Doerrer, gave Nash her letter of termination.
Nash’s termination led to students, as well as other Twitter users creating the hashtags #FreeKatie and #KatiefromFCPS.
Nash recently opened up about the incident telling WHAG-TV,:
“Out of this entire experience, that something really positive comes out of this because I think the community has sort of been looking at this and various reactions, most positive, but I really am sincere and I hope FCPS thinks how can we use social media to engage going forward,”
Nash has continued to tweet from her personal account, expressing support for Frederick County Public School, as well as its students. Nash also told local news outlets she plans to continue being a part of school functions such as the PTA.
A Care2 petition has been created for Nash to restore her job. As of Sunday, January 15, it had almost reached its goal of 2,000 supporters.
“We need to get her her job back or at least get her a job somewhere where she is rightfully appreciated,” the petition reads.
