D20 Academy 20's DEI Initiative
2023 School Board Elections
While the "progressives" are busy updating their profile pictures to the latest trend and reciting the same ol' tired dogma, we extend our congratulations to Amy Shandy and Derrick Wilburn on their election to the Academy District 20 School Board!
How DEI was introduced at D20
The Academy School District 20 September 18 newsletter announced a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiative that launched at the district beginning in the 2020/21 school year. The newsletter was signed by Tom Gregory, former Superintendent of Schools from 2019 through 2023.
The events of 2020 sparked national dialogue about institutional bias. Organizations from a host of different industries have since sharpened their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion DEI.
We owe each and every student equitable access in an inclusive and hate-free environment.
Our own students, parents, and patrons have expressed increasing concern about equity and inclusion in our classrooms and schools. They have cited concerns with disparities in student achievement, exclusion of marginalized populations, expressions of hate and racism, and the need for a more culturally diverse staff.
Prior to the announcement, an open letter circulated that was presented to the board on June 18. The letter asserts that the disparities of racial representation across various programs and actions at the district are the result of "systemic racism against children" and charges the district with doing this deliberately.
The district selected CEI to introduce the program and assembled a Task Force to lead the effort. Members of the local activist group that met with Dr. David Peak served on the Superintendent's 2020/21 DEI Task Force.
The results of the Task Force's initial assessment were presented June 3rd.
The Task Force's final report was published in the summer of 2021, which provides no actual data that supports their claims and includes a pledge that you can sign.
Activist Support
A local activist group has spoken in support of the efforts at school board meetings since then, including at the August 6th board meeting. The group later met with Dr. David Peak , assistant superintendent for human resources and incoming Superintendent of Cheyenne Mountain School District.
We were able to meet with Dr. David Peak, assistant superintendent of HR with ASD-20 last week. We are eager to begin a collaborative relationship to transform the schools in our area.
#blacklivesmatter #coloradosprings #blmcolorado #whiteprivilegeisreal #antiracism #antiracismcolorado
Former school board director Heather Cloninger is also a new member of this activist group and regularly rubs elbows with and the area's extreme progressives.
If you're curious about the "progressive" pack involved with our district, check out the local hate-mongerer and professional narcissist Rob Rogers. The loudest progressives, including Heather Cloninger, backed his failed run for state office in 2022, sharing a playbook of equally outrageous ideas. The same associates also failed to elect three school board candidates in 2019.
Our Concerns
DEI initiatives have gained considerable traction, with proponents wielding influence over decisions and policies that affect students, categorized by identity traits like race or sexual orientation. These policies permeate all facets of school operation—from hiring and faculty training to student group selection, curriculum supplements, sports, business relations, and the prevailing school ethos. Such identity-based classification can lead to counterproductive outcomes, fostering divisiveness and resentment.
Academy 20's DEI program originated in the wake of 2020's societal upheavals, propelled by an open letter alleging that racial bias underpins disparities in school discipline and access to advanced programs, though these claims have not been substantiated with evidence. Instead, the push for DEI seems to be grounded in selectively presented statistics, personal testimonies, and a wave of popular activism rather than empirical data.
The Superintendent's launch of the DEI initiative was framed with broad social justice rhetoric and nonspecific goals like achieving a "culturally diverse staff." Already, the district’s foundational documents and policies are being reworked through a DEI perspective, a process unfolding even before the full integration of the program. Further, comments from the Superintendent about reviewing the use of the Confederate flag in history lessons indicate a future where the DEI task force could exert considerable influence over educational content.
However, as we continue to move forward with our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, all district policies will be evaluated.
- Tom Gregory, Superintendent
District administrators have made several statements in past board meetings about projects at the district being addressed “through the lens of DEI.”
DEI efforts are intended to be an overhaul of systems and institutions based on theories such as critical race theory, as demonstrated in the open letter, policy and literature, and comments at board meetings.
Critical Race Theory (CRT)
The term Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a flashpoint in discussions around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in K-12 education. While some districts deny incorporating CRT, its principles often underpin these programs. Despite their denial, DEI efforts face growing scrutiny for promoting what critics call a divisive ideology. In response, districts may claim CRT isn't part of their curriculum, sidestepping the broader discontent with DEI practices. Bans on CRT don't always address concerns about an overarching 'woke' agenda, which extends beyond race and is sometimes cloaked in vague language to either gain acceptance or escape detection. The debate is complex, with CRT being just one element of the larger discourse.
Oppose DEI
We urge the district to halt its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and other initiatives rooted in controversial social theories that emphasize identity politics, including Critical Race Theory (CRT). These programs were launched without community consent and have suffered from a lack of transparency and impartiality. We call for the school board to enact policies that restrict the administration's ability to implement such programs without board consent, ensuring increased oversight and transparency. Moreover, we advocate for policies that prohibit divisive and resentful practices, advocating instead for authentic inclusivity. The results of the 2021 and 2023 School Board elections should be seen as a clear directive to pursue these changes.
Resources on Academy 20's DEI initiative and other examples of DEI.
The ideal of social justice does not complement the ideal of education. The ideal of social justice replaces the ideal of education.
- David Randall, National Association of Scholars.