OSDE suspends teaching certificates for 6 accused of ‘assaulting’ students
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The State Board of Education suspended half a dozen teaching licenses Thursday afternoon over student abuse allegations.
A total of 16 teacher certifications were up for discussion, but only six were immediately suspended.
“We’ve sent a clear message that any individual that is assaulting kids in school will not be in our classrooms any longer. They will be referred to law enforcement. This is the most aggressive action the state has taken on this. We will continue to ensure student safety in our schools and any kind of misconduct towards a child that endangers a child in any way,” said State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
One of the teacher certifications was self-surrendered while the Board approved a hearing officer appointment to seven other educators whose licenses are up for discussion.
On the Board of Education’s agenda was also former Norman High School English teacher, Summer Boismier, but no action was taken on her certificate.
“We saw an incredible example there of an individual who continued to push the most radical ideology to her students. She admitted that publicly multiple times. She admitted skirting state law. It’s about as open and shut of a case as you have. And frankly, it’s been a very clear example in Oklahoma. We’re not going to allow that,” said Supt. Walters.
According to the State Department of Education’s (OSDE) administrative complaint filed at the end of February 2023, a parent complaint pertaining to Boismier was received by Norman Public Schools on the first day of school, August 19, 2022.
The complaint concerned a display in Boismier’s classroom and comments made by Boismier during a high school English 2 class that included that parent’s child.
Norman district employees then went to Boismier’s classroom to investigate the parent’s claims.
That’s where documents show they found bookshelves covered in red bulletin board paper with messages written in black marker.
The message allegedly stated, “Books the state doesn’t want you to read.”
The bookshelf was covered because NPS district guidelines required teachers to review the books in their classroom and either remove any contravening the guidance or cover the books until they had time to remove them.
Next to that message was a QR code with additional writing that said, “Definitely don’t scan me.”
That QR code in the classroom was linked to the Brooklyn Public Library’s “Books Unbanned” initiative which allows kids ages 13-21 to read the library’s full catalogue of books.
NPS requested a meeting with Boismier to discuss their findings, but she resigned before the two parties could ever meet.
Boismier’s resignation statement said, “I will say the district did offer me back my job, allowing me back in the classroom as of [Tuesday morning]. However, there were some fundamental ideological differences between myself and district representatives that I just couldn’t get past.”
After her resignation, NPS reviewed the covered bookshelf in Boismier’s classroom.
NPS identified three books on her shelf: ‘Gender Queer,’ ‘The Bluest Eye‘ and ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue,’ according to OSDE’s administrative complaint.
The parent complaint to NPS also brought up ‘Gender Queer.’
The parent’s complaint stated the book was filled with inappropriate sexual content.
In a previous statement sent to News 4, NPS Superintendent, Nick Migliorino said, “There was no violation of OK HB1775 or SDE rules nor was the issue about any books actually on the teacher’s shelves or the use of the public library QR code.”
“I’ve been very clear on that, that was grossly inappropriate,” said Supt. Walters.
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The State Board of Education has previously cancelled Boismier’s revocation hearing.
On Thursday, the Board set a date for March 28.
The Board also set a self deadline of March 14 to respond to Boismier’s request that Supt. Walters be disqualified from making a decision on her teaching certificate.
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