Who is Leah Kinyon? Utah high scool teacher 'fired' after rant against anti-vaxxers goes viral
A Utah high school teacher who was placed on administrative leave after officials were made aware of a video in which she was seen ranting about students not getting vaccinated and refusing to wear a mask in the classroom, is no longer employed.
On Wednesday, school officials confirmed that Kinyon wasn't a district employee anymore after an investigation into her rant.
The video which was shared with FOX13 by a student's mother, Judy Storms, showed Lehi High School chemistry teacher Leah Kinyon speaking about Covid-19 vaccines and more. The four-minute video was recorded by a student. "I would be super proud of you if you chose to get the vaccine," Kinyon says in the video. "We'll just keep getting variants over and over until people get vaccinated... It could end in five seconds if people would get vaccinated." The video was also uploaded on YouTube. Other teachers who recently made headlines include Josiah Enyart, Antonio Bailey, Laura Morris, and Jeanne Hedgepeth.
READ MORE
Teacher slammed for TikTok video for 'mis-pronouning' student: 'Beyond any level of stupidity'
Who is Leah Kinyon?
Apart from teaching chemistry, Kinyon also teaches marine biology in the high school. At one point in the video, the teacher also self-proclaimed that she was the school's "Gay-Straight Alliance adviser." Neither the school nor the Alpine School District has confirmed the teacher's identity. Nothing else is known about her. Kinyon was not wearing a mask while making the comments in the video. Storms' son Zane told FOX13 that Kinyon was aware that she was being recorded and that she has a habit of giving such speeches.
She also went onto condemn former President Donald Trump. "I hate Donald Trump. I'm going to say it. I don't care what y'all think — Trump sucks," she said. "He is a sexual predator. He is a literal moron. Don't tattle on me to the freakin' admin; they don't give a crap." When one of the students reminded her, “This is a chemistry class!” Kinyon did not seem to be bothered and continued anyway. “Turn off the Fox News, do your parents listen to Fox News? This is my classroom and if you guys are going to put me at risk you’re going to hear about it. Because I have to be here. I don’t have to be happy about the fact that there’s kids coming in here with their variants that could possibly get me or my family sick. That’s rude. And I’m not going to pretend like it’s not,” she said.
Kinyon also told the students that "most of" their parents "are dumber than you," and they should not do everything their parents say or believe. "Most of y’alls parents are dumber than you. I’m going to say that out loud. My parents are freaking dumb. Okay, and the minute I figured that out, the world opened up. You don’t have to do everything your parents say. And you don’t have to believe everything your parents believe. Because most likely you’re smarter than them," she said.
'If you’re a homophobe, get the hell out'
At one point in the video, a student seemed to have countered Kinyon's beliefs, which prompted her to target that student in her speech. To whatever the student said (which was inaudible), the teacher said, "You can believe what you want to believe, but keep it quiet in here because I'm probably going to make fun of you. I’ll just say this, here are the topics that you’ll probably want to avoid. Politics, which you went into, because you asked me… If you don’t believe in climate change, get the hell out…. That’s pathetic that you think that, you’re the problem with the world, OK."
Kinyon also told her class homophobia would not be tolerated. "If you’re a homophobe, get the hell out. Because I’m the GSA faculty advisor, I love gay people, all the LGBTQIA+ mother [expletive]. If you don’t like it get out. If I hear you say a damn word against any of them I will open a can and I will make your life a living hell. If you give shiz to any LGBTQ kid in the school, I will hear about it and you will be in trouble," she said.
The Alpine School District said in a statement to FOX13: "We became aware late this afternoon of an incident that took place today in one of our high school classrooms. An immediate investigation ensued. The employee has been put on administrative leave pending a thorough investigation. This behavior is inappropriate, not reflective of the professional conduct and decorum we expect of our teachers, and will not be tolerated."