The principal of an elementary school in Arizona slammed parents who spoke out against Critical Race Theory as “whackos” and schemed for ways to “quiet those pushy voices,” according to internal emails obtained by Young America’s Foundation’s Campus Bias Tip Line.
Desert Valley Elementary School Principal Tonja Neve appeared fed up with the nearly dozen of parents who took to a December 10 School Board meeting to voice their opposition to a new proposed curriculum that would promote elements of Critical Race Theory.
“That board meeting was ridiculous,” Tonja Neve wrote in an email obtained by YAF through a Freedom of Information Act request. “I’m sick of us giving these whackos a platform to spread propaganda without making any correction statements.”
Concerned parents who spoke out during the meeting asked the district to “stop diluting student education with politically correct, feel-good propaganda.”
Another parent stated “Before the governing school board today is a vote for a new curriculum that appears well-intentioned, appealing, even empathetic. But in actuality, it further divides us…. You cannot cure racism with more racism.”
Neve also schemed with Jennifer Mundy, one of the architects of the new proposed curriculum, on how they could “quiet” “pushy voices” of dissenting parents, citing a recent circuit court decision that “reinforces the power of principals to set boundaries in parent-school communication.”
A spokeswoman for the Peoria Unified School District told YAF that the district was not aware of Neve’s insulting comments.
“We do not support the name calling you’re referencing in this email and have follow-up accordingly with this staff member once this was brought to our attention,” Chief Communications Officer Danielle Airey told YAF in a statement.
Airey also noted that Neve has “taken a position outside of our district for next school year and will no longer be serving our district.”
According to a local paper, Neve has been selected as principal of Main Street School in New Hampshire, where she will begin working in the fall.
It is shameful that an administrator would speak so maliciously about parents who are simply concerned about their children’s well-being. This public records request serves as a reminder that at the end of the day, many teachers and public school administrators do not have students’ best interests in mind–instead, they’re focused on pushing a radical agenda while trying to silence anyone who disagrees.
UPDATE: Neve gave this statement to YAF:
“My comments were unprofessional, and I apologize for that…my comments were in regards to audience members who were coming to our board and calling teachers out by name and misconstruing and devaluing the hard work they do,” Neve said in an email. “My comment was made in the heat of the moment and in defense of my profession and colleagues.” Neve also added that she takes “responsibility for what I did wrong.”
“I love serving my community, and I welcome partnerships with our families and community members,” she added.
If you’re facing campus bias, submit a tip.
