The undersigned call for the resignation of Cheryl Bean as Chair of the Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCAA) Board of Directors.

As Board Chair, Ms. Bean is entrusted with representing and protecting the interests of a diverse student body and ensuring that every student and family feels welcomed, respected, and valued. Recent social media activity attributed to Ms. Bean has fundamentally undermined that trust.

The posts in question included imagery and commentary that many members of the school community viewed as employing racist stereotypes, invoking the September 11 attacks, and relying on harmful racial tropes. Concerns were also raised regarding hateful commentary that appeared on Ms. Bean's social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

The concern extended beyond the original posts themselves. Many of the posts generated public engagement in which commenters responded with additional racist, discriminatory, and hateful remarks. Rather than fostering respectful dialogue, the comment sections became forums for increasingly inflammatory rhetoric, further amplifying the harm caused by the original content. As the owner of these public social media accounts and the Chair of the TCAA Board of Directors, Ms. Bean bears responsibility for the environment created and maintained on platforms used to communicate with the public.

On Thursday, July 2, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and Texas School of the Arts administration acknowledged the matter in a message to families, stating:

"The district was made aware of a social media post involving Board Chair, Cheryl Bean. All Board Members have been made aware of this matter."

The message also included the following statement from Cheryl Bean:

"The post of the basketball team crossing the Delaware River has been removed. The original intent was to show female athletes standing strong against unsportsmanlike conduct in a humorous way ... nothing more. My team and I did not see the floaties in the picture and would never have posted it if we had. I believe racism in any form has no place in our society and regret our unintentional oversight."

While we acknowledge Ms. Bean's statement and the removal of the post following complaints from members of the school community, the concerns extend beyond a single image. Rather, they reflect what many community members view as a broader pattern of public social media activity that is inconsistent with the responsibilities of the Chair of a public charter school board.

This issue was not an isolated disagreement within the school community. It was subsequently covered by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, making the controversy a matter of public record and placing additional scrutiny on the leadership of the Texas Center for Arts + Academics.

The Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts Student Handbook states on page 3:

"FWAFA is a nonsectarian school and shall not discriminate in admission on the basis of sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, academic ability, athletic ability, or the district the child would otherwise attend."

Although this language specifically addresses admissions, it reflects the values that families reasonably expect the school's leadership to uphold. Those values should be reflected not only in institutional policies, but also in the conduct of those entrusted with governing the school.

The Board Chair serves not only as the chief representative of the Board, but also as a steward of the school's mission and public trust. Students and families from every race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and background deserve confidence that those entrusted with governing the school will demonstrate sound judgment, respect for the dignity of others, and a commitment to the inclusive values the school professes.

When the individual serving as Board Chair publicly shares or amplifies content that many members of the community reasonably perceive as discriminatory or demeaning toward protected groups, confidence in the Board's ability to provide fair, inclusive, and ethical leadership is compromised.

For these reasons, we respectfully call upon Cheryl Bean to resign as Chair of the Texas Center for Arts + Academics Board of Directors and from the Board entirely. If she chooses not to resign, we call upon the TCAA Board of Directors to take appropriate action to remove her from her position as Chair and from the Board entirely, and to ensure its leadership reflects the standards of respect, accountability, integrity, and inclusion expected by the students, families, educators, and community it serves.

Our Request

By signing this petition, we respectfully request that the Texas Center for Arts + Academics Board of Directors:

1. Request the immediate resignation of Cheryl Bean as Chair of the Board and from the Board entirely.
2. If she declines to resign, initiate appropriate action under the Board's governing policies to remove her from the position of Board Chair and from the Board entirely.
3. Reaffirm the Board's commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination, inclusion, respect, and equal dignity reflected in the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and Texas School of the Arts Charter and Student Handbook.
4. Adopt or strengthen standards of conduct for Board members that recognize their responsibility as public representatives of the school, including expectations for public communications and social media activity that uphold the mission and values of Texas Center for Arts + Academics.

By signing this petition, we affirm our commitment to a school community where every student is treated with dignity and where those entrusted with leadership are held to the highest standards of conduct, accountability, integrity, and respect for all members of our community.