West Chicago teacher put on leave over pro-ICE comment

A West Chicago elementary school teacher has been put on administrative leave over a pro-ICE comment he made on social media.

And some people are calling for the West Chicago Elementary District 33 school board to fire the man.

The district has not identified the teacher.

West Chicago Mayor Dan Bovey confirmed reports that the man worked at Gary Elementary School.

Bovey’s wife, Jody, teaches at Gary Elementary, and their four children went to school there. The man and Bovey coached soccer together, Bovey said.

The mayor noted that some schoolchildren have been traumatized because their mothers or fathers were taken by immigration agents. More than 81% of the district’s students are of Hispanic descent, according to its 2025 state school report card.

“So to have a teacher who is a person that they trust, who is the person who takes care of them when they can’t be with their mom or dad, to have that person cavalierly cheer on these events as if it is a football game and say, ‘Go ICE’ is extremely hurtful and extremely offensive. And it’s wrong,” Bovey said, in a video he posted on Facebook Saturday.

Bovey organized a Monday morning meeting with himself, two aldermen and about 100 residents. The gathering allowed the residents to discuss the matter. Bovey noted that some people planned to keep their children home from school Monday, either out of fear or in protest.

Bovey urged people not to protest at the school itself, believing that would further upset children.

“Let’s make sure children are at the center” of any actions, Bovey said.

District 33 Superintendent Kristina Davis released a statement Monday saying the district learned Thursday of “concerns regarding a disruptive social media comment made by a District employee on his personal account.”

Davis said the teacher resigned, but then took it back. The teacher was placed on administrative leave while the district investigates the matter.

“We understand that this situation has raised concerns and caused disruption for students, families, and staff. We want to ensure our schools are safe spaces, and we look forward to seeing all students back in school tomorrow,” Davis said.

Cristobal Cavazos, director of Casa DuPage Workers Center, said his organization has been working with West Chicago Community High School students to plan a walkout on Friday afternoon. He said other high schools have been doing walkouts to protest immigration enforcement efforts.

“I have two children. I would not feel comfortable having” this man as their teacher, he said.

Cavazos said it is not a matter of the teacher having the right to free speech. “In my view, this is hate speech,” he said.

“I really feel it is an attack on the community.”