A longtime preschool teacher with the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) has been placed on paid administrative leave after a video was made public of her engaging in a physical confrontation with a group of peaceful protesters.
The incident took place Saturday on the corner of H Street and Ocean Avenue in Lompoc as demonstrators gathered to protest ICE operations in the area.
The 57-second video shows Rebecca Arreola ― a teacher and coach in SBCEO’s Early Care and Education programs ― first mocking the group by shouting, “Deportation!” before starting to spell out the word as a cheer. “Gimme a D!” she says.
