We demand an immediate end to the discrimination and mistreatment of transgender educators within Kirkwood School District.

The Kirkwood School District just lost all 3 of their openly transgender educators.  The educators have been pushed out of the District in a targeted and coordinated attack by Kirkwood District administration. The loss of these educators comes at the expense of our students and community. Here is their story:

- On March 6th, a transgender nonbinary permanent substitute received a transphobic fabricated complaint and the District immediately put them on unpaid leave and refused to allow them to return to work. Guilt was assumed and the educator was never given due process. They were simply erased from the schedule, losing their income and health benefits. 

- On February 28th, a second transgender permanent substitute was told by the District that telling students their gender identity was “sex education.” Administration told them that if a student asked about their gender, the principal will then call the students parents and ask permission to tell the student that the educator identifies as female and uses she/her pronouns. No other employee in the building was directed to follow these same extreme procedures when asked about their gender. The District forced the educator to leave Kirkwood because of this discrimination.

- On February 3rd, a third transgender nonbinary educator was told by administration they can not say they are “not a boy or girl” or that they are “nonbinary”. The District is not allowing them to say they exist or that people like them exist in the world. This discriminatory action has forced them to resign from the District as a full-time educator. In addition to this discriminatory action they were subjected to, they experienced severe and pervasive discrimination throughout the course of their 4 years of employment with the District.

Incidents of discrimination in Kirkwood include but are not limited to the following: 

• Forcing educators to deny their own identity by prohibiting them from stating they are nonbinary, transgender, or "not a boy or a girl," as well as forcing educators to imply that transgender people do not exist.
• Refusing to investigate discrimination when reported.
• Placing educators on unpaid leave in response to targeted, falsified, and transphobic complaints, further marginalizing and alienating them from their profession.
• Denying educators due process to which they are entitled by District Policy in responding to transphobic complaints.
• Experiencing a hostile work environment, including a classroom vandalized with feces smeared on the floor.
• Prohibiting an educator from correcting anyone who uses the wrong pronouns or titles, further perpetuating their erasure and invalidation.
• Being maliciously misgendered by the School Board President in a blatant disregard for their identity.
• Directing educators to send students questioning their gender identity to the building principal, who seeks parent permission to discuss the student's personal identity without their input or consent.
• The District's harmful belief that the gender identity of these educators has caused damage to their institution.
• Restricting educators' ability to explain the use of the title Mx. by limiting their responses.
• Receiving severe disciplinary actions for simply stating, “I am not a boy or a girl.”
• Requesting a 24-hour notice before educators can enter a room with a child, limiting their movement while other teachers can walk freely around the building.
• Subjecting educators to increased scrutiny in their performance evaluations, singling them out from their colleagues.

There have been three transgender/nonbinary educators who have experienced targeted discrimination and harassment by the Kirkwood School District. One of these educators is no longer with the district, forced to find a new job due to lack of income. The second has been put on unpaid leave. The third has submitted their resignation effective at the end of the school year. The actions of Kirkwood School District have created an unsafe environment for transgender staff and students to work, learn, and exist.

The actions of the Superintendent Dr. David Ulrich, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Howard Fields, and the Board of Education have endangered and harmed the well-being of these three educators and have also set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of transgender and nonbinary individuals, staff, and students in the School District. It is time to recognize that every person, regardless of their gender identity, has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We demand the following from Kirkwood School District:

1. Immediate action to rectify the harm inflicted upon the transgender educators affected by this discrimination, including restitution of income and benefits caused by discrimination and harassment.
2. Adoption of affirmative policy statements that assert the District’s support for and protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students.
3. A comprehensive review and update of District policies and practices to ensure they are in full compliance with Missouri state law and federal guidelines regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
4. Adoption of mandatory training on creating an LGBTQ+ inclusive environment for all District staff, including the Superintendent, Human Resources department, and the Board.
5. Transparent communication with the community regarding the steps taken to address and prevent discrimination against transgender and nonbinary educators and students.

By signing this petition, we commit to standing up against discrimination and advocating for equal rights for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity. We call on the Superintendent, HR, and the Board of Kirkwood School District to take immediate action to end this unacceptable and harmful treatment of transgender and nonbinary educators. We will not be silent until every member of our community is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Transgender and nonbinary individuals have the same rights as any other person, both inside and outside the workplace. They are entitled to live and work without fear of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Our existence is not a crime, and it is not against Missouri state law or any federal regulations, despite what the District may claim. Transgender and nonbinary educators and students are allowed to exist, and we will fight to ensure their rights are protected and upheld. We insist on an inclusive, supportive, and respectful environment for all educators and students.

Thank you for your support.