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In interview, Ahehart opposes withholding students' pronouns from parents; board pressed about MDE videos
Summary
Board members asked Dr. Thomas Ahehart whether he would support professional‑development materials that instruct teachers or administrators to withhold students’ pronouns or alternate names from parents; Ahehart said generally he would not support withholding that information but sought clarification about the videos raised by board members.
During his interview with the State Board of Education, Dr. Thomas Ahehart was asked directly about controversial professional‑development videos board members said were connected to the Michigan Department of Education and which allegedly advised teachers or administrators to hide students’ pronouns or alternate names from parents.
Unidentified Board Member 4 described videos that reportedly instructed staff how to withhold pronouns and alternate names during report cards and parent‑teacher conferences and said some teachers had resigned over the guidance. Board Member 4 asked whether Ahehart would oppose “that kind of effort” if appointed state superintendent.
Ahehart asked for specifics and where the videos were posted, and when told they were “connected with the Michigan Department of Education,” he replied that, generally speaking, he would not support withholding that information from parents. “On generally speaking, no. It seems like that would be something that… was generally known,” he said in response to the board’s question.
The chair interrupted to note the line of questioning contained a large amount of framing and asked board members to allow candidates to answer directly. Ahehart declined to endorse a policy change without seeing the materials and urged the board to ask specific questions; he nonetheless stated his general opposition to withholding information from parents.
The transcript records the concern and the candidate’s response but does not include the videos themselves, their provenance, or a departmental finding. The board did not take action during the interview; the hiring consultant will report tomorrow.
