Connecticut teacher sues school district over First Amendment rights after crucifix suspension

A Connecticut public school teacher who was suspended after refusing to remove a crucifix from her classroom is taking her First Amendment battle to a federal appeals court. Marisol Arroyo-Castro, who had displayed the religious symbol near her desk for nearly a decade, is challenging a school district’s decision to remove it. The case is scheduled for oral arguments on December 7, 2026.Arroyo-Castro taught middle-school social studies at DiLoreto Elementary & Middle School in New Britain, Connecticut. She said the crucifix was a personal expression of her faith and a source of comfort during her working day. However, school administrators instructed her to take it down, warning that refusing to comply could lead to disciplinary action.The disagreement escalated in December 2024, when the teacher was reprimanded for insubordination. The school district subsequently removed the crucifix and suspended her for two days without pay. She was later placed on paid administrative leave and reassigned to a non-teaching position in March 2025.Teacher says crucifix was a personal expression of faithArroyo-Castro said the crucifix had been displayed near her desk for approximately 10 years. She described it as something that helped her remain calm while grading papers and completing other classroom work.“I pretty much kept it to myself,” she said, explaining that the symbol was a personal source of comfort.She recalled becoming emotional…