The Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously voted on Thursday to revoke the teaching license of one teacher and referred the cases of two others to a hearing officer. The decision was made during a brief and intense August meeting.
Summer Boismier had her state teaching license revoked, while Allison Scott and Regan Killackey will have their cases reviewed by a hearing officer. This decision sets the stage for a potential legal battle. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, speaking to reporters following the state board’s meeting, affirmed that Boismier had violated the law.
According to Walters, Boismier violated the law and he firmly believes that when a teacher breaks the law and openly admits to doing so, it is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
Walters emphasized the importance of holding teachers accountable in Oklahoma. He emphasized that the laws passed by the Legislature and the rules and code of conduct for teachers will be enforced. Walters wanted to ensure that every parent is confident in having the best possible teacher for their child in the classroom.
Brady Henderson, the attorney representing Boismier, has stated that they will challenge the board’s decision to revoke Boismier’s license in district court. Henderson expressed confusion regarding the facts on which the board based their decision, stating, “We are uncertain about the specific set of facts they relied upon. It appears that they had to invent alternative facts to justify the revocation and achieve their desired outcome. However, the exact nature of these facts remains unknown to us at this time.”
He expressed his expectation of filing a court case within a week or two. “In essence, once we obtain a final order, we will proceed with a judicial review petition to challenge their decision to disregard the actual findings of the case and revoke it,” he explained.
Summer Boismier had faced license revocation for years for protesting ‘critical race theory’ law
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Boismier has been going through a revocation hearing for nearly two years. In 2022, Walters accused Boismier of trying to instill a “liberal political agenda” in her students and demanded that her teaching license be permanently taken away.
Cara Nicklas, the attorney for the board, stated that during the June meeting, the board decided to amend the hearing officer’s recommendation and instructed her to draft an order that relies exclusively on the written record. She mentioned that the order has been shared with the board members, and all that is required is their authorization for the board chair to sign it.
Walters decided to take action after Boismier resisted House Bill 1775, a contentious state law aimed at the inclusion of critical race theory in education. In 2022, Boismier chose to cover the bookshelves in her classroom with red butcher paper.
“More: State BOE suspends, but doesn’t revoke, license of former teacher who pushed back on critical race theory law”
The licensing board for the state has made the decision to suspend the license of a former teacher who openly opposed a law regarding critical race theory. However, it’s important to note that the license has not been completely revoked. This action taken by the board highlights the ongoing debate surrounding critical race theory and the consequences faced by those who challenge it.
Walter previously stated that Boismier had openly admitted to breaking state laws by promoting inappropriate content to children. Parents from all across the state have expressed their concerns about having activist teachers in classrooms. It is crucial for us to prioritize the protection of our children from any form of indoctrination. We must assure all parents that the actions of this individual do not reflect the values of Oklahoma. As a board, we will remain committed to upholding state laws and statutes.
After leaving Norman High School in August 2022, Boismier has relocated to New York. She was not present at the Oklahoma board meeting.
What to know about the other Oklahoma teachers facing hearings
During the board’s July meeting, there was a discussion about an inquiry that Scott is facing regarding her license. It seems that she made a comment on a social media post referring to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, stating, “Wish they had a better scope.”
In July, the Ardmore district released a statement acknowledging that one of its employees had made a comment on a social media platform that seemed to endorse violence against a political figure. The district emphasized that Ardmore City Schools firmly denounces any form of physical violence and disapproves of any words that promote it, regardless of the intended target.
The district initiated an extensive and prompt investigation into the matter, as stated previously. However, as of Thursday, the district superintendent’s office maintains its position and does not have any new updates on the progress of the investigation.
During the July meeting, Walters expressed his thoughts on a social media post made by Killackey back in 2019. The post featured a picture of his children dressed in Halloween costumes while they were at a store. One of the children wore a Trump mask, while Killackey and another child held fake swords. Walters found the photo to be “incredibly inappropriate,” as reported in various news articles.
Killackey is among the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that is challenging HB 1775, a measure that was passed in 2021. The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations and individuals have also taken issue with this legislation.
The Edmond School District did not provide any comments on the board action.
Former Norman teacher, Summer Boismier, has had her teaching license revoked, while other teachers in the area are facing upcoming hearings.
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