Pastor John Amanchukwu with police officers at Francis Howell School District.

Despite the Francis Howell Board of Education voting against my First Amendment Rights, my attendance at the May 15, 2025, school board meeting proved successful. My message of protecting children in America’s public education system still rings loud and clear. Board President Steven Blair (who’s actually a pastor) led the vote to silence me, and I was escorted out of the building by police officers.

In 2024, Francis Howell School District (FHSD) appeared to advocate for removing sexual discussions from classrooms and vulgar books from school libraries. At one point, a plan was introduced to end all conversations on gender identity, and there was supposed to be an approval process for purchasing and donating library books.

Although media reports claim these policies were passed, there has been little to no change on campus. Did the backlash from radical leftist groups stall these efforts? Rather than protect the innocent, did administrators and school board members kowtow to the woke mob?

When I researched the FHSD library catalog, I saw titles like “The Black Flamingo,” “Sold,” and “Growing Up Trans: In Your Own Words” are still on the shelves. None of these books should be available to students who come to school simply to learn English, math, and science. 

I also met with one parent who revealed a gut-wrenching situation that has dramatically affected her family. Issues arose when this mom begged the district to intervene and remove a “trans” pride flag from her 12-year-old daughter’s classroom. Sadly, she was immediately met with resistance.

TPUSA obtained an image of the “trans” flag hanging in a Hollenbeck Middle School classroom.

After consulting their legal team, FHSD told the parent they wouldn’t do anything to remedy the problem. I can’t imagine an attorney advising their client to violate company policies in the name of “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Now, the teacher who was allowed to hang the “trans” flag in his classroom is on administrative leave while being investigated for sexual misconduct.

Public outcries against this teacher finally prompted Hollenbeck Middle School Principal Dan Harmon to notify the whole Francis Howell community about this teacher, one day before I attended the board meeting.

Why couldn’t FHSD do the right thing from the beginning? The Board of Education and the Superintendent have the power and authority to safeguard children, but they refuse to do it. Francis Howell School District leaders are a shame and a disgrace.

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Turning Point USA would like to thank Dr. Bob for his contributions, which allowed Pastor John Amanchukwu to pursue stories that shed light on corruption within the public education system. 

Thank you, Dr. Bob!