A Berkeley Heights teacher was reportedly removed from school after making off-duty comments parents described as political.

NJ21st first reported the story Wednesday, Sept. 30, citing multiple parents who said the teacher was "walked out" of the school. Some parents characterized the remarks as expressing a political viewpoint; others framed them as an issue of bias. NJ21st reported it had not independently confirmed the accounts or the district's reason for the action.

All accounts agreed the remarks were made away from school grounds and outside work hours.

Board of Education member Sai Akiri was the only district official to respond to NJ21st's inquiry. She responded in her individual capacity, not on behalf of the board.

Akiri said parents and students told her the teacher taught Math and Financial Literacy and also coached. She said parents reported that political ideology had not entered the classroom.

Based on what she has heard from parents and students, Akiri said she is "deeply concerned about the perception residents have that the District selectively protects the First Amendment rights of some employees and not others."

She questioned whether the district's action was the best use of limited funds and warned that defending a potential First Amendment lawsuit could divert money from classrooms. She also asked whether the district would have acted the same way if the teacher had expressed different views.

The Berkeley Heights Public Schools administration had not responded to NJ21st's inquiry as of Wednesday. NJ21st said it would publish responses from other board members or administrators if they reply.

The district's high school is Governor Livingston High School. NJ21st did not name the school involved.

Akiri has her own history of friction with the board. In July 2026, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education upheld a public censure against six board members, including Pamela Stanley, over their handling of a 2022 ethics complaint filed against Akiri. The Commissioner found the board members had used public funds in furtherance of private means. The censure is a formal sanction but does not remove anyone from office or impose fines.

The Board of Education met Sept. 24 and entered executive session during that meeting. No public discussion of the teacher's reported removal appeared in available meeting records.

Residents who want to address the board can check bhpsnj.org for the next scheduled meeting date.