Is Your School Superintendent a Political Weapon?
Parents and resident tax-payers—Can you trust your School Superintendent to direct the academic success of your kids and others in your local public schools? Can you be sure she or he is not pushing your kids toward political and sexual ideologies? Does your Superintendent guard your parental rights? Is he or she accountable to you, or do they spend your tax dollars and make priorities outside their mandate?
We forget the power of School Superintendents who are hired by the school district governing boards. We need to speak up and remind those elected board members that their job is to responsibly manage and hold superintendents accountable. Some lame duck members of Scottsdale Unified School District are considering pushing through an early extension of their controversial and failing superintendent (see action item below). It’s our job to speak up strongly but respectfully. Your voice makes a huge difference!
Below we hear from our own SMART Families Network Director, Tamra Farah, along with the Director of Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, Jill Dunican. Thank you, Tamra and Jill! ~ Kim
School Superintendents--Secret Weapon of the Left
By Tamra Farah
In the corridors of education, a seismic shift is underway. Local superintendents, entrusted with shaping the educational landscape, are being influenced by a woke agenda that transcends their official roles. Behind this phenomenon lies the shadowy hand of leftist interests, channeled through national and state chapters of the School Superintendent Association (AASA), driving an agenda that reaches deep into the heart of public education.
Recent events in El Paso County, Colorado, underscore the extent of this influence. Allegations have surfaced of a superintendent employing intimidation tactics, supported by legal counsel, to suppress reports of a sexualized gender focus in classrooms. Such incidents reveal a troubling trend of silencing dissent and stifling transparency in the pursuit of ideological conformity.
At the national level, the AASA is actively seeking to modify the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), often hailed as the Parents Bill of Rights (PBOR). While PPRA mandates parental notification of policies and surveys, the proposed amendments could erode parental consent requirements, potentially leading to increased control over data collection by schools, to the detriment of parental rights and oversight.
Arizona provides a stark example of the consequences of such ideological influence. In Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), Superintendent Scott Menzel's equity-driven agenda has resulted in a dramatic reallocation of funds away from academics towards social support infrastructure. The repercussions are profound, with declining academic achievement, escalating violence, and growing student dissatisfaction.
Menzel's emphasis on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) has permeated every aspect of district life, reshaping classroom dynamics and disciplinary measures. Yet, amidst the proliferation of gender identity and sexuality clubs, concerns about academic focus and student safety persist.
Similar challenges echo across Arizona's educational landscape. In Flagstaff, revelations about controversial sex education curriculum content have sparked parental concern, while in Mesa, allegations of clandestine aid to students undergoing gender transitions have led to legal battles and ethical scrutiny.
The reluctance of some superintendents, such as Laura Toenjes of Kyrene District, to address concerns about new survey questions addressing social-emotional learning and sex education, further exacerbates tensions and raises questions about accountability.
Amidst these local debates, broader concerns loom about the influence of ideological agendas within educational institutions. The rise of what critics term the "Communist Whole/Community School philosophy" underscores the need for vigilance and a return to fundamental principles of education.
In this landscape of change, House Bill 2717 proposes a radical overhaul of the educational system in Mohave and La Paz County. Advocates argue for increased efficiency and cost savings, but questions linger about the potential concentration of power in the hands of county superintendents and its impact on local autonomy and accountability.
As parents and residents, it is incumbent upon us to remain vigilant and hold school officials and school board members accountable. The future of education hinges not only on academic excellence but also on safeguarding the principles of transparency, parental rights, and proper legal oversight in our schools.
Tamra Farah has twenty years of experience in public policy and politics, focusing on protecting individual liberty and promoting limited government. She’s served at the director level at Americans for Prosperity-Colorado, FreedomWorks, and currently with Arizona Women of Action.
Contributer Jill Dunican is the director of the local Arizona school parent watchdog group Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity.