In what some believe to be another case of political correctness gone awry, a teacher at West Valley High School in Spokane, Washington, claims he was fired for reading the “n-word” aloud during a class discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s iconic novel about racial injustice in the Jim Crow South.
The former West Valley High School teacher, Matthew Mastronardi, was secretly recorded by a student while reading a passage from the school-approved text that uses the n-word in its historical context.
In a series of posts on X, Mastronardi explained that while he teaches Spanish, he had overheard two students discussing how they were instructed to skip over “the n-word” while reading the novel in their English class.
Mastronardi wrote, “I was astonished and expressed disagreement, saying, ‘That’s silly; it undermines the book’s historical context and disrespects the author’s intent to use accurate language.’ A girl asked me in front of the class, ‘Would you read the word?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I would read every word.’”
“A male student immediately handed me the book and said, ‘Okay, do it.’ I knew the situation was serious with 30 students watching, wondering if I would read,” Mastronardi continued. “Nervous but committed, I saw it as a teachable moment about context and literary honesty in reading. I read a passage aloud, including the word ‘nigger,’ unaware I was being recorded.”
A male student immediately handed me the book and said, “Okay, do it.” I knew the situation was serious with 30 students watching, wondering if I would read. Nervous but committed, I saw it as a teachable moment about context and literary honesty in reading. I read a passage… pic.twitter.com/r4YIvXZ57O
— Matthew Mastronardi (@RealMastro21) June 11, 2025
Later that week, Mastronardi says he was given a verbal warning about the reading by the school’s principal, and an ultimatum. He could either resign or not have his contract renewed. Refusing to resign, his contract was terminated.
On May 5, I received an email from Human Resources Director Sabre Dahl requesting a meeting. The next day, I met with Dahl and the principal, who informed me that, due to recent events, I could either voluntarily resign or face the non-renewal of my contract. I submitted a… pic.twitter.com/z3nEjB8dqW
— Matthew Mastronardi (@RealMastro21) June 11, 2025
West Valley High School’s administration claims the decision “wasn’t solely due to this incident,” but has refused to provide other reasons.
“I requested a meeting to urge reconsideration, and we met on May 21. During the meeting, they repeatedly stated the decision wasn’t solely due to the TKAM incident. When I asked, ‘What other reasons contributed to my termination?’ they provided no specifics. There are no parent complaints, no documented disciplinary actions, and I’ve passed every teaching evaluation,” the teacher continued.
Mastronardi said the teacher’s union has been “unhelpful and actively resistant” in his case.
EXCLUSIVE: A Spokane, Washington, high school teacher could lose his job for reading the N-word out loud in his classroom.
But his students are now coming to his defense, arguing that the school district is too concerned with being politically correct and should instead focus on… pic.twitter.com/g74hQUpFKJ
— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) June 11, 2025
Speaking to The Gateway Pundit, Mastronardi said his brother, who was a teacher at the same school, submitted his resignation in solidarity to repudiate the district for the injustice.
“I didn’t get to attend the last day of school because I am not allowed on the campus,” Mastronardi said. “According to my brother, dozens and dozens of students were trying to find me on the last day of school to say goodbye and lend support. He said it was very sad and students were deeply upset.”
Mastronardi added, “The union is still refusing to supply me with the meeting minutes from the notes they took during a meeting I had with the Superintendent. I’m considering legal action against them. I’m preparing for a press conference this week where local leaders will join me in speaking about academic freedom, literacy, honesty, and free speech.”
A petition to reinstate Mastronardi to the school, launched by his students, has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures. A GiveSendGo fundraiser to help while he is out of work has raised just over $4,500.
The fundraiser description explains, “I am married and have three beautiful young children. The money raised will support us through this transition period and my plan is to make a large donation to support educational efforts that prioritize free speech as well. I hope you’ll consider donating to this cause. Thank you.”
UPDATE: Our reporting brought heavy scrutiny to a Spokane, WA high school that’s trying to part ways with a teacher who read the N-word out loud in class.
Today, Matthew Mastronardi was put on administrative leave, just one day before the end of the school year.
He’s now… pic.twitter.com/vDQur55ukh
— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) June 13, 2025
In 2018, Minnesota’s Duluth School District removed the novel from required reading lists due to its use of the n-word, with administrators citing student discomfort. Similar bans occurred in Mississippi’s Biloxi School District, prompting criticism from the National Coalition Against Censorship, which argued that classrooms are the ideal place to discuss the word’s “history, use, and destructiveness.” A 2021 Daily Mail report noted over 100 academics and parents opposing teachers reading the n-word aloud from To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men, signaling a broader push to sanitize literature.
