SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City teacher accused of sending critical letters to her superintendent and other district leaders has been fired. The Sioux City Journal reports the school board voted to fire middle school teacher Julie Fischer even though a judge cleared her of criminal charges last spring. In March, a judge dismissed six counts of harassment Fischer faced because the letters were deemed free speech, not harassment.

Fischer had other teachers speak on her behalf at the board hearings. She had taught in the district since 1991. Fischer had been on administrative leave from August 2018 until last Wednesday when the school board fired her.