Parents Defending Education received an email that an Arlington Public Schools teacher sent to staff on a “Science Focus School Staff” emailing list. This teacher stated in the email dated January 30, 2025: “In recent weeks, DEI efforts and multiple identities have been targeted, leading to heartbreaking emotions across communities and throughout the country.” She then explains that she previously held the position of “DEI Equity Influencer” for the district but no longer does:
Though I am no longer the DEI Equity Influencer at ASFS, I want to take a moment to remind you that you are not alone. The APS DEI branch remains intact, committed to fostering a more equitable learning environment and community for all students and staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [redacted], [redacted], or me.
She then provided “common examples of hate speech that must be addressed and reported to administration.” One example appeared to be stating a simple biological fact. The following were provided as examples:
- “You’re not really a boy/girl.”
- “Being LGBTQ+ is just wrong!”
- “You don’t belong here—go back to your country!”
There will be a presentation to staff on “Hate Speech” presented by the district’s DEI team. There is a document of “Hate Speech Notes” locked from the public.
The email also revealed that the district will have an “APS Lawyer-Led Meeting on ICE Response for Staff” on February 20. A resource is in this section of the email that states the district will refuse to work with federal authorities asking for information on illegal aliens: “APS does not ask for a student’s immigration status when enrolling, therefore cannot share it with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office.” The district claims that it will “work to protect students’ rights and keep their information private in alignment with federal law.”
A list of resources were then provided in the email from known organizations that target children with LGBTQ issues and gender ideology, such as GLSEN and Trevor Project.
In a budget document from the district, the district reveals that it paid the “Equity Influencer Equity Team” an amount of $6,030 in Fiscal Year 2022. The document labels this cost as part of the “continuing initiatives.” A budget document for Fiscal Year 2024 reveals that the superintendent’s office “created Equity Team Influencers to serve in elementary schools; 24 teachers agreed to serve as Equity Team Influencers, and they met monthly for professional development.” A presentation from the district titled “Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Monitoring Report” labels the Equity Influencers as a “stipend position.”
