Idaho teacher in classroom-sign furor quits. Here’s what she told school officials
Published at | Updated at
Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman
MERIDIAN (Idaho Statesman) — A week before the end of the school year, the walls of Lewis and Clark Middle School teacher Sarah Inama’s classroom are uncharacteristically bare. The sixth-grade world civilization teacher, whose classroom in Meridian is usually full of colorful maps, motivational posters, plants and learning aids, has begun to pack up.
The one thing Inama has left up on her walls, for now: a sign that says “Everyone is welcome here,” above hands with different skin tones.
The sign, administrators at the West Ada School District told Inama in February, violates district policy on “content neutral” classroom displays. Inama defied orders to remove it, sparking national conversation, and was told by administrators that she had until the end of the school year to take it down.
RELATED | An Idaho teacher was asked to remove signs promoting inclusivity. Controversy ensued
RELATED | Inclusive classroom poster phrase sparks a movement as hundreds rally in Boise in support
It’s finally about to come down — because Inama has decided to resign.
“This will be my last year teaching in the West Ada School District, and it saddens me to leave under these circumstances,” Inama wrote in a letter announcing her resignation to the school district on Friday, May 9.
“I cannot align myself nor be complicit with the exclusionary views and decisions of the administration,” she wrote. “It is deeply troubling that the people running this district and school have allowed a welcoming and inclusive message for my students to be considered controversial, political, and, worst of all, an opinion.”
In a phone interview with the Idaho Statesman, Inama maintained that her sign does not violate district policy and is not a “personal opinion.”
Inama said other signs in the district have inclusive messages and the representation of different skin tones should be cause to “celebrate,” not something “to be feared.”
“I don’t understand why we can say we embrace diversity but not show what we mean,” she said.
She said she does not believe the sign is political and finds it “bizarre that we’ve even gotten to this point.”
Inama said she is searching for another job. The 35-year-old said she became a long-term substitute in West Ada in 2019 before getting hired full-time in 2020, and previously she was a substitute teacher while getting her teaching degree. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from University of Idaho.
“I hate to leave my students and my colleagues … but I just feel like it’s important to me to feel like I’m supported by my employers, and I just don’t feel like that in my school district,” she said.
After school concludes on Friday, May 23, and the sign is the last thing in her room that she takes down, Inama said she hopes that “for the future of the school and obviously the kids, that they can come around to understand that inclusion is not controversial.
“It’s something that we should be proud of.”
Spokesperson Niki Scheppers said the West Ada School District “does not comment on individual personnel matters, as they are protected by law. We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and to respecting the privacy and dignity of our employees in all work-related matters.”
Inama’s resignation letter:
EastIdahoNews.com comment boards are a place for open, honest, and civil communication between readers regarding the news of the day and issues facing our communities. We encourage commenters to stay on topic, use positive and constructive language, and be empathetic to the feelings of other commenters. THINK BEFORE YOU POST. Click here for more details on our commenting rules.