SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Nearly 100 parents and students gathered at Thursday's Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting to protest the removal of Jeanine Rupert, a sixth-grade teacher at Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School.

The removal comes after an incident at the end of last school year, when Rupert and her students removed old carpeting from her classroom, which may have contained asbestos.

"She was removed from the classroom without due process, without cause. And secretly!" James Frazee, a parent at the meeting, said. "This was done on a Friday before a three-day weekend, and told she can't show up. And this is allegedly over pulling up carpet."

Parents and students spoke in support of Rupert, describing her as an incredible teacher and role model.

"I think it's a horri

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