Paul Rossi

Paul Rossi is an educator whose passion for teaching led him to ditch a tech job in favor of teaching math at the Grace Church High School in New York City. In 2021, Mr. Rossi went public with a first-hand account of the damaging effects of so-called "antiracist pedagogy" on his students. For his temerity to question rigid anti-racist training, he was severely harassed at the school, and had the surreal experience of walking the halls as the school loudspeaker broadcast denunciations of his heresies.

He was let go when he refused to apologize for questioning the facilitator during a racially segregated meeting, and after he released a recording of the principal privately agreeing with him.

Mr. Rossi now lives in New Hampshire and is a founder and leader of The Terra Firma Teacher Alliance, a group of K-12 teachers working to combat the rise of illiberal agendas in education and restore integrity and quality to the teaching profession. He has researched and written extensively about the politicization of education for The Wall Street Journal, The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, Parents Unite, and Legal Insurrection Foundation. He has also presented his findings for The Manhattan Institute, Parents Defending Education, Moms for Liberty, and Education Veritas. Paul is a trusted resource for dozens of K-12 teachers nationally.

For his courage to stand up for the timeless values of curiosity and empathy in K-12 education, the Columbia Academic Freedom Council is honored to present Mr. Paul Rossi with the 2025 Academic Freedom Award.