The Newport Mesa School District is investigating after Pitzen posted a video admitting that she encouraged students to pledge allegiance to a gay pride flag after she removed the American flag from her class. We follow due process and our investigation continues.” The teacher is no longer in the classroom.

“Showing respect for our nation’s flag is an important value that we instill in our students and an expectation of our employees.

“We are aware that one of our teachers posted a video on their personal social media that caused alarm and concern related to saluting the American flag,” Annette Franco, a spokesperson for the school district, wrote in an email to Newsweek. Kristin Pitzen has been removed from her classroom pending an investigation. Post Sponsor: Express VPN | 30-day money back guarantee Kristin Pitzen, a teacher at Newport Mesa School District in Orange County took to social media to brag about removing the American flag from her classroom because it “made her uncomfortable” and had students pledge to the pride flag.