A Massachusetts school district fired an associate principal for Facebook posts they had previously reviewed and approved, sparking a federal lawsuit that could reshape how public schools police employee speech rights.
Story Highlights
- Judicial Watch sues Barnstable Public Schools for firing John Bergonzi over pre-employment Facebook posts
- School district initially cleared and approved Bergonzi’s social media before hiring him as associate principal
- District terminated Bergonzi in December 2024 for posts not “reflecting school values” despite no complaints or disruptions
- Lawsuit alleges First Amendment violations and breach of contract in federal court
District Reverses Course on Approved Social Media
Barnstable Public Schools hired John Bergonzi as associate principal for the 2024-2025 school year after conducting a thorough review of his social media presence, including his Facebook posts. The district explicitly cleared his online content during the hiring process, allowing Bergonzi to resign from his tenured position elsewhere and begin his new role. However, on December 10, 2024, administrators terminated Bergonzi for the same Facebook posts they had previously approved, citing only that the content did not “reflect the values of Barnstable Public Schools.”
Federal Lawsuit Challenges First Amendment Violations
Judicial Watch filed a federal lawsuit on January 12, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of Bergonzi. The case, titled Bergonzi v. Barnstable Public Schools, alleges violations under 42 U.S.C. ยง 1983 for First Amendment retaliation, breach of contract, and promissory estoppel. Attorney Meredith DiLiberto represents Bergonzi, arguing the district violated his constitutional rights by punishing him for protected speech made as a private citizen on matters of public concern.
The lawsuit emphasizes that Bergonzi’s Facebook posts were created before his employment, addressed public issues, and caused no documented disruptions or complaints from parents, students, or community members. Despite this, the school district chose to terminate him retroactively for content they had already vetted and approved during the hiring process.
Pattern of Educational Censorship Emerges
This case represents the latest in a series of similar lawsuits filed by Judicial Watch against public schools for disciplining employees over social media posts. Previous cases include a Massachusetts teacher fired for anti-critical race theory Facebook posts in 2021, and an Illinois teacher terminated for praising black conservatives during George Floyd unrest. These cases highlight a troubling pattern of educational institutions silencing conservative viewpoints while claiming to promote diversity and inclusion.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton stated that “Public schools do not get to silence employees simply because they express opinions that administrators dislike.” The organization seeks to hold Barnstable Public Schools accountable for violating the First Amendment and reneging on their initial approval of Bergonzi’s social media content. This case could establish important precedent limiting schools’ ability to retroactively punish employees for previously approved speech.
