Monroe Schools Reinstates Athletic Director After 4-Month Leave
Dr. Chet Hesson returns to his role after being placed on leave for expressing empathy toward a transgender student athlete in a media interview.
MONROE, MICHIGAN — Monroe Public Schools has reinstated Dr. Chet Hesson as the district’s athletic director as of Tuesday, ending a four-month paid administrative leave that began after he expressed empathy for a transgender student athlete.
Superintendent Andrew Shaw announced the reinstatement in a letter sent to district families on Monday. Hesson had been on leave since December following an interview he gave to Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ+ news outlet, in which he expressed support for a student on the Ann Arbor Skyline High School girls’ volleyball team who faced anti-transgender harassment.
The student was the center of a Title IX complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education by a parent of a Monroe High School volleyball team member.
Investigation Clears District
The reinstatement comes just over a week after an independent investigator determined that Monroe Public Schools was not in violation of Title IX. The investigation examined claims that the two volleyball teams shared a locker room during a September 9, 2025, game between Monroe High School and Ann Arbor Skyline High School.
At the time of that announcement, district officials said no decision had been made about Hesson’s reinstatement.
Limited Details on Personnel Decision
Shaw declined to provide specifics about the reinstatement decision in his letter to families. “While we are pleased to have our leadership team back at full strength, please understand that we cannot discuss the specifics of this reinstatement in great detail, as it remains a personnel matter,” Shaw wrote.
The controversy began when Hesson participated in an interview with Uncloseted Media, where he discussed the situation involving the Ann Arbor Skyline student who had been subjected to anti-transgender harassment. His comments expressing empathy for the student led to his placement on administrative leave in December.
The Title IX complaint that sparked the investigation was filed by a parent whose child played on the Monroe High School volleyball team. The complaint centered on allegations related to the September volleyball game between the two schools.
Hesson’s reinstatement restores the district’s full administrative leadership team as the school year continues. The athletic director position oversees sports programs across Monroe Public Schools.
