SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City teacher accused of sending critical letters to her superintendent and other district leaders is appealing her firing.

The Sioux City Journal reports that Julie Fischer’s petition for judicial review says the Sioux City Community School District board’s decision to terminate Fischer’s employment violated her First Amendment right to free speech. Fischer is asking for a reversal of the board’s decision, reinstatement and an award of back pay and benefits. No hearings have been scheduled.

The school board voted to fire Fischer even though a judge cleared her of criminal charges. In March a judge dismissed six counts of harassment Fischer faced, saying the letters were free speech, not harassment.

The board has said Fischer was not terminated because of the letters, but because she violated the district’s Mandatory Cooperation in Workplace Investigation Policy and Code of Ethics. The board ruled that Fischer made false statements and provided misleading information during the district’s investigation.