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Kaiser teacher praises district diversity work and urges due-process protections for investigated staff
Summary
A teacher at Kaiser Elementary spoke in support of district diversity and mentorship programs and asked the board to ensure teachers under investigation receive full documentation of accusations.
Leah Thomas, a teacher at Kaiser Elementary School, used public comment on June 23 to thank KIRKWOOD R-VII leadership for district diversity, equity and inclusion work and to voice support for the Kirkwood Teachers of Color Mentorship Program (KTAC).
"We learned a lot," Thomas said of a recent professional-development conference. She credited district professional development, building leadership and a colleague identified as Dr. Jeremy Mapp with broadening her ability to address sensitive classroom incidents. Thomas described an instance this school year when she overheard young students using a slur and said the training helped her "navigate this tricky topic with the children in a caring and supportive way."
Thomas also asked the board to provide teachers with due process when a staff member is investigated. She requested that the district provide any and all documentation and evidence that underlie allegations in an investigation so staff can respond to the claims.
Her remarks were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board action on policy or personnel procedures was recorded at the June 23 session.
