Teacher involved in “Gender Queer” book investigation controversy to return to teaching

Stockbridge and Great Barrington — The teacher who was involved in the “Gender Queer” book investigation controversy, eighth grade ELA teacher Arantzazu Zuzene Galdos-Shapiro, will be returning to teaching at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School.

Her return to teaching was announced during the Berkshire Hills Regional School District meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29 by Middle School Principal Miles Wheat.

After the controversial Great Barrington Police Department investigation on December 8, Galdos-Shapiro took a leave of absence.

Galdos-Shapiro’s return comes a few weeks after the school district issued its results of an independent investigation into the incident that involved the Great Barrington Police Department’s investigation over a copy of “Gender Queer” that Galdos-Shapiro allegedly had.

The independent investigation, which was conducted by Kevin Kinne from the Pittsfield law firm of Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP, revealed that the complainant in the incident was Great Barrington resident Adam Yorke, who worked as a night custodian in the school district.

Yorke, who made multiple claims against Galdos-Shapiro to the Great Barrington Police Department, recanted his claims during his interview for the independent investigation.

He was subsequently fired from the school district.