'It's not worth it anymore': Tennessee teacher says she’s quitting because the 'type of people' who oppose her pride flag are 'taking over' education

  • A Tennessee high school teacher says she's quitting over her pride flag
  • The flag was seen in Randi Lee's classroom during a TikTok video
  • Lee later said that her promise didn't mean she was going to quit 'today' 

A Tennessee high school teacher went viral after she said in a TikTok video that she was quitting her job after being called a groomer on social media over the presence of a pride flag in her classroom. 

Randi Lee was responding to a comment left on her TikTok by an anonymous person who wrote: 'You should quit - I see the groomer flag in the background.'

Lee, 30, said in the clip, which has since been posted by the previously banned Twitter account Libs of TikTok: 'Here's the thing, I am going to quit. I am 100 percent going to quit.' 

She added that while she wasn't quitting because of that specific quote, it was because people like the commenter are 'taking over education.' 

In a video that went viral thanks to Libs of Tik Tok, teacher Randi Lee said that she plans to quit because 'education is not what it once was'

In a video that went viral thanks to Libs of Tik Tok, teacher Randi Lee said that she plans to quit because 'education is not what it once was'

Lee went on to say: 'Education is not what it once was and it's not worth it anymore. I support every single one of my students no matter what they're views are.' 

The video ends with Lee pointing to the comment and saying: 'This... it... just... get f****d.'

After the video went viral, Lee posted a new video addressing many of the commenters who were asking about when she was going to quit. 

In response to one commenter who asked: 'When are you quitting? Trying to plan the celebration.' 

Lee said that in her original video, she didn't mean that she was quitting 'tomorrow' and said: 'I'm trying to buy a house. I gotta stay employed.' 

In this photo, you can see the pride flag in the background on the wall of Lee's classroom

In this photo, you can see the pride flag in the background on the wall of Lee's classroom

She also joked that she would let her followers know when she was quitting because she 'loves a party.'

Lee told DailyMail.com: 'Regarding me announcing I’m quitting, that isn’t necessarily a big announcement. I decided at the beginning of the school year that I only had one or two more years left in me.'

She added: 'Everyone is just running with that sentence from the video.' 

Lee has been working in the school district since 2017 having graduated from the University of Memphis

Lee has been working in the school district since 2017 having graduated from the University of Memphis

When asked about those who criticize the presence of the pride flag in her class room and compare it to a 'grooming flag,' Lee said: 'I think they’ve never been inside a classroom after graduating high school.'

She added: 'Everyone has an opinion about education because it’s something everyone has experienced at some point or another. But until they actually experience what’s it’s like to be a teacher or even a student in today’s world, they have no idea.

'Displaying a flag often indicates a safe person, especially with the violent rhetoric and physical violence the LGBTQ community has experienced.' 

On her brief TikTok bio, Lee says: 'Sometimes I teach teenagers. Catch me on eight wheels

On her brief TikTok bio, Lee says: 'Sometimes I teach teenagers. Catch me on eight wheels

On her brief TikTok bio, Lee says: 'Sometimes I teach teenagers. Catch me on eight wheels.' 

The latter being an apparent reference to her hobby of roller derby in Memphis. She jokes on her Instagram page's bio: 'Average at parenting, teaching and, roller derby.' 

Chaya Raichik (left) posted a picture with a smiling Donald Trump, in the wake of Lee's video the teacher posted on Instagram: 'I'm beginning to think Chaya is obsessed with me'

Chaya Raichik (left) posted a picture with a smiling Donald Trump, in the wake of Lee's video the teacher posted on Instagram: 'I'm beginning to think Chaya is obsessed with me'

Posts on her profile so that she is married with two children. In the fallout from the Libs of TikTok posting her video, Lee said on Instagram: 'I'm beginning to think Chaya is obsessed with me.' 

A reference to the founder of the account, Brooklyn-based real estate agent Chaya Raichik. 

Libs of TikTok, which was manned by Raichik anonymously until she revealed herself last year, reposts content by left-wing creators, often mocking their woke politics and social commentary. 

Issues surrounding gender reassignment and children's participation at drag events are among some of the topics Libs of TikTok frequently posts about. 

In June 2022, Lee's roller derby was covered in a feature by ABC's Memphis affiliate. 

A month before that, Lee also went viral when she was criticized for a video in which she said that she regularly spoke about race in the classroom. 

In the clip, Lee said that she 'bucks the system on a regular basis' by talking about race during math class. 

Lee previously went viral when she was criticized for a video in which she said that she regularly spoke about race in the classroom

Lee previously went viral when she was criticized for a video in which she said that she regularly spoke about race in the classroom

According to Lee's LinkedIn page, the controversial educator is a graduate of the University of Memphis where she attained a BA and Master's in Social Work. While at the school, she became a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. 

She has been employed by the Memphis-Shelby County Schools since July 2017.  Lee is a special education teacher at Raleigh-Egypt High School. 

Lee's rant has gained the attention of conservative activists across Twitter. Robby Starbuck said: 'Congrats Tennessee! Our work to stop the grooming of children in school is more and more successful by the day.'

Starbuck went on: 'Now even radical teachers we've called out are promising to quit because of it. This is just the start. Sanity & safety will be restored.' 

While Ty's Tough Talk said: '"I’m so upset I can’t indoctrinate your children anymore so I’m quitting my job." That’s all I got from this.' 

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