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Parents and advocates clash at state board over calls to revoke licenses of educators who praised political violence
Summary
Public commenters asked the State Board to pursue license revocations for Nevada educators who allegedly celebrated an assassination; other speakers urged due process and that personnel matters remain at district level. The board did not take action; the public comment was entered into the record.
Several members of the public urged the board Wednesday to investigate and pursue license revocations after reports that some Nevada educators used social media to celebrate the assassination of a public figure; other commenters warned against politicizing personnel matters and urged adherence to district-level procedures.
"When an educator publicly glorifies violence, it meets those definitions precisely," Erin Phillips, CEO of Power to Parent, said, citing professional and statutory standards and asking the board to place an item on the next meeting agenda to consider license revocation. Phillips referenced CCSD Regulation 4100 and Nevada statutes, saying "NRS 391.330 allows the board to suspend or revoke a license for immoral or unprofessional conduct" and asked the board to issue guidance to districts.
Anna Binder, a separate commenter who said she emailed her remarks, opposed the request. "The Nevada Department of Education and this board and local districts already have clear established procedures for addressing employee concerns or alleged misconduct," she said, adding that due process and district-level personnel procedures exist "to ensure fairness, not trial by social media, not mob rule, and not political theater." She urged the board not to insert itself into district personnel matters.
The board received written public comments on the matter and accepted one read into the record (submitted by Samuel Huber) and five additional email submissions; the written comment called for investigation and revocation where allegations are verified. President Dockweiler did not schedule a board action item; the board heard public comment but did not take formal action on license revocation during the meeting.
Board members later suggested follow-up: Member Dawson Owens asked for more information on district and state responsibilities and social media policy legal ramifications, and the board placed a request on the future-agenda list for a follow-up presentation on district and state responsibilities related to social-media policy and legal considerations.
No formal disciplinary actions or formal investigations were initiated by the board during the meeting; callers asked the board to consider the issue for future agenda discussion.
