Ricardo Lopez #

Introduction #

Ricardo Lopez is a former history teacher at Synergy Quantum Charter High School in Los Angeles who was fired after opening a campus gate so that students could leave school and join an anti-ICE walkout. According to a New York Post report published on Feb. 11, 2026, which cited the Los Angeles Fox affiliate Fox 11, Lopez was terminated within an hour of opening the gate for what he says the school called insubordination. Lopez said he acted to protect students from injury after seeing others hurt themselves climbing over the campus fence a day earlier. The firing drew a public backlash: students and parents rallied outside the school demanding his reinstatement, an online petition garnered nearly 1,000 signatures, and supporters created a GoFundMe on his behalf.

Background Information #

Lopez taught history at Synergy Quantum Charter High School, a Los Angeles charter school in the Synergy Academies network. The Synergy Academies organization addressed the incident in statements to Fox 11, describing its collaboration with district partners on campus safety and referencing the safety of students from both schools at the campus.

The walkout Lopez assisted took place during a period of demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that occurred across California. Students at the school joined the walkout despite the school warning against skipping classes. According to statements the school gave Fox 11, decisions about whether students may leave campus during the school day are made solely by school administration, in accordance with campus access and safety procedures set by Los Angeles Unified School District policy.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

On the day of the walkout, Lopez said he unlatched the campus gate so that students leaving to join the anti-ICE protest would not have to climb the fence. He told Fox 11 that he had seen other students hurt themselves hopping over the fence a day earlier, and that he opened the gate to prevent further injuries. “I was just concerned about their safety,” he told Fox 11. “As the closest adult to them, I just opened the gate.”

Within an hour of opening the gate, Lopez was terminated for what he says the school called “insubordination.” He was escorted off campus, and his belongings — including student artwork and classroom projects — were later dropped off in boxes at his home. Synergy Academies confirmed to Fox 11 that Lopez was no longer employed at the school. In a statement, the school said it respects students’ rights to express themselves but must prioritize safety and follow Los Angeles Unified School District campus access policies.

Public Reaction and Consequences #

News of the firing prompted pushback from parts of the school community. Since Lopez’s firing, students and parents have rallied outside the school demanding his reinstatement, calling the punishment excessive. A petition circulating online garnered nearly 1,000 signatures. A GoFundMe created to support Lopez said he was “protecting students from physical harm” and argued that he was punished for “choosing safety over strict protocol.”

The school defended its handling of the episode. “Synergy works collaboratively with our district partners to follow the campus access and safety procedures set by LAUSD policy to ensure the safety of students from both schools,” the organization said in a statement to Fox 11, adding that “decisions about whether students may leave campus during the school day are made solely by school administration.” The school also said such decisions are made in accordance with safety protocols.

Current Status #

As of the report published on Feb. 11, 2026 — the most recent account available — Lopez was no longer employed at Synergy Quantum Charter High School, a status Synergy Academies confirmed to Fox 11. No reinstatement had been reported. The rallies, the petition drive, and the GoFundMe had all emerged in the period since his firing, and no resolution between Lopez and the school had been announced in the report.

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The firing ended Lopez’s teaching position at the school where he taught history. The circumstances of his departure — an escort off campus followed by his belongings arriving at his home in boxes, among them student artwork and classroom projects — became part of the public account of the case. Lopez, who said he opened the gate because students were getting hurt, framed the loss in personal terms: “I just want to get back to my classroom and students.” The GoFundMe created in his support signaled backing from part of the community, but the report did not describe any new job or reinstatement for Lopez.