'I don't know how you could support that woman'

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Lawrence, Kansas high school teacher Tim Latham, who was first told that his contract would not renewed, has now been reinstated.

Latham had claimed that the initial decision not to renew his contract was because of his conservative political views. Although he was never given one specific reason for the school apparently wanting him gone, Latham was criticized several times by Assistant Principal Jan Gentry, each time for a different reason. On one occasion, Latham was told that his school-affiliated web site was "too patriotic."

On another occasion, Latham says he was called into Gentry's office and was told he was picking on then-candidate Barack Obama in class. This happened after an unidentified student allegedly complained to Gentry that Latham had been too critical of Obama when the American history and government teacher's class lessons covered the presidential race between Obama and John McCain.

One of Latham's former students disputes that the teacher was unfair to Obama:

Chloe Mercer, who graduated Lawrence High School last month, said Latham's class was her favorite and said he was fair despite his decision not to show Obama's inauguration in class.

"He chose not to show it, but he printed out Obama's speech and we read it and discussed what we felt was good about it," Mercer told FOXNews.com earlier this month. "[Latham] was fair. He listened to all sides of every issue. He actually made print-outs of every candidate and how they felt on certain hot-button issues."

Latham also said that Gentry asked him about a "McCain-Palin" bumper sticker on his car:

"She said, 'I don't know how you could support that woman,'" Latham said. "That was the beginning of what was going on. They were trying to find a reason to get rid of me."

District Superintendent Randy Weseman said that the initial decision not to renew Latham's contract was the result of "inconsistencies in the evaluation process."

Weseman confirmed to FOXNews.com that that the popular 44-year-old teacher will be back next year. He said administrators erred by not conducting enough in-class evaluations:

"To make a long story short, they didn't do what they were supposed to," Weseman said. "Obviously there are implications to procedures not being followed."

Latham conducted himself in a "respectful and dignified" manner throughout the process, Weseman said, adding that the "injustice" claimed by Latham had been confirmed.

Latham will return this fall to the high school, where he'll continue teaching American history and government for a second consecutive year. Since the contract renewal became official late last week, Latham, a teaching veteran of 20 years, said he's received countless well-wishes from students and teachers alike.

Prior to his reinstatement, a number of Latham's students had created a Facebook page entitled "Save Mr.Latham, Lawrence High History Teacher." It is not known how much of an impact the Facebook page or Latham's appearance on Fox & Friends may have had on the reversal of the decision not to renew his contract. What is clear is that the assistant principal there is a liberal who considers any website which doesn't apologize for the United States "too patriotic" and support of Sarah Palin sufficient grounds for dismissing a teacher.

Update: From the Lawrence Journal World & News:

Lawrence High School Assistant Principal Jan Gentry was arrested during the weekend for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

A sheriff’s deputy stopped the 53-year-old Gentry for a traffic violation about 10:19 p.m. Saturday on westbound U.S. Highway 56 near East 400 Road in eastern Douglas County. She was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail, where she was released on $250 bond and ordered to appear in court June 5.

Lawrence school district Supt. Randy Weseman said he was still investigating the situation and could not yet comment about how the incident might affect Gentry's job.

h/t: TX4P Reader pabluni

- JP