PPS Substitute Teacher Suspended for Showing Frida Kahlo Film

PPS will offer back pay to teacher who was removed from sub list for exposing students no younger than 13 to artist's work and life

For three weeks, Portland teachers union president Gwen Sullivan's Facebook profile has featured the photo of internationally acclaimed artist Frida Kahlo.

It's a protest of Portland Public Schools' decision to suspend a longtime substitute teacher last month for showing students a documentary about the artist.

"It's just the most ridiculous thing," Sullivan tells WW. "It's ludicrous."

The students who saw the documentary were no younger than 13, and are part of a program for students in federal immigration limbo.

The teacher has been back on the district's official list of substitute teachers, but will also receive 11 days of back pay, a district source says.

Here's a link to the video, available on YouTube, "The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo" that students watched.

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Rachel Monahan

Rachel Monahan joined Willamette Week in 2016. She covers housing and City Hall.

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