Nebraska’s teacher of the year says she’s been bullied by state board member for months

Nebraska’s 2023 Trainer of the 12 months says she is being bullied on social media by a member of the State Board of Schooling.

Renee Jones, a Lincoln Excessive Faculty instructor, mentioned Monday that Kirk Penner, vp of the state board, has been expressing his disdain for her since she was chosen as instructor of the yr in October. That included a Twitter put up by Penner final Friday that triggered heated responses over the weekend.

On Sunday, Jones posted on Twitter that due to Penner’s previous social media posts, “somebody requested me if my household was protected.”

“Kirk Penner is instructing Nebraskans that’s it okay to bully, harass, and unfold lies about individuals who don’t share the identical opinion as you,” she wrote within the put up.

Penner has criticized Jones for months — significantly over the problem of drag queens, which grow to be a sizzling debate within the Nebraska Legislature.

Final October, Penner homed in on the truth that she had taken half in a drag queen story hour session final March at SXSW EDU, a world training convention.

Jones had posted at the moment on her private Fb web page about her pleasure in attending the session. She additionally mentioned, “you higher consider I’ll be shopping for a number of new inclusive kids’s books.”

A screenshot of the put up was circulated on-line by a number of conservative social media customers and Penner within the months following.

Penner mentioned that he disagrees with Jones’ buying of books that includes drag queens and believes she meant the acquisition was meant for her classroom.

On Friday, Jones clarified on social media that she was serious about shopping for the books for her personal kids.

“The place does it say she was shopping for them for her kids?” Penner mentioned. “I don’t know what to inform you if you happen to learn the Fb quote and suppose that it says ‘I’m shopping for for my very own kids.’ That’s not how that reads.”

Penner referred to that put up for the primary time on Oct. 20, the day Jones was shocked with being named instructor of the yr, then tweeted about it once more the subsequent day. He quoted one other put up on Twitter that confirmed a video of the convention.

“What on the earth is happening! There may be NO REASON this must be a part of any training convention and will NEVER by hyped by the ‘instructor of the yr’!” he wrote.

On Jan. 31, he tweeted about it once more with a photograph of him testifying in assist of Legislative Invoice 374, dubbed the “Dad and mom’ Invoice of Rights and Tutorial Transparency Act,” which was launched by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil.

“Attempting 2 defend our youngsters from radical agendas in some colleges,” Penner wrote. “Sure, we use taxpayer cash 2 attend skilled improvement encouraging childrens books of males dressed as ladies.”

Jones mentioned in an interview on Monday that it was a mislead say the district paid for her to go to the convention. She used her personal private money and time to attend.

On Friday, Penner posted a picture on Twitter exhibiting that Jones had appreciated tweets from Jane Kleeb, Nebraska Democratic celebration chairwoman, after Penner’s Jan. 31 put up. Kleeb mentioned then: “I’d belief a drag queen over you with my children daily and twice on Sunday. Laughter, love, kindness…that’s what I’ve seen when drag queens learn to children in libraries. And what I hear from you is concern, hate and cruelty.”

Penner tweeted Friday: “Since it’s drag queen day on the Unicameral….we’re battling for our youngsters and this crap must cease.”

“The narrative you’re spreading is inaccurate and dangerous,” Jones mentioned in a tweet to Penner on Friday. “You’ve this wonderful platform the place you could possibly be specializing in instructor retention and compensation, but that is what you spend your vitality on?”

A state board bylaw says members “have the accountability to make it clear when they’re talking or writing on their very own behalf that they don’t seem to be representing the board.” It doesn’t point out social media — solely that board members ought to add a disclaimer when expressing private views.

The state board’s code of conduct additionally says that members ought to “encourage the free expression of opinion by all board members.”

Patti Gubbels, state board president, mentioned in an e-mail on Monday that she has no remark besides that Penner’s tweets don’t signify the State Board of Schooling.

“He’s talking as a person, not on behalf of the board,” she mentioned.

Jones mentioned she disagrees as a result of Penner’s Twitter profile options his official State Board of Schooling headshot and says “District 5 State Board of Schooling.”

Members expressing private views on-line has been a difficulty up to now for the board.

In 2015, the state board crafted a decision asking then-board member Pat McPherson to resign after racist weblog posts have been discovered to be posted on his weblog since 2011. He by no means ended up resigning.

Jones mentioned she needs Penner to say his tweets have been dishonest on the April 14 board assembly. She additionally needs the board to subject a public assertion saying that Penner’s feedback don’t signify the board and that the board nonetheless helps her.

Nebraska’s academics of the yr typically go to the state board to provide updates and weigh in on present initiatives they’re engaged on.

“I assist the LGBTQ neighborhood. I additionally respect that Mr. Penner and I’ve completely different opinions on Drag Queen Story Hour,” Jones mentioned. “Nevertheless, his actions have triggered defamatory statements to happen.”