Maldonado Statement on Superintendent Schroeder’s Politicization of WDE
Recently, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Brian Schroeder, exposed his disconnect with the people of Wyoming, sharing his analysis of Title IX, and consciously not affording our Wyoming students even a bit of respect as he links school lunch dollars to gender identity policies.
As a candidate for Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction I have stated, “Education should be evenly and equitably distributed with love to every child regardless of age, gender, race, class, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. That’s what education is about.” The WDE is responsible for every child in upholding the Wyoming Constitution! Schroeder’s statement shows a thorough lack of understanding of the Constitution’s directive that there will be “no discrimination between students.” The recent press release, paid for by public funds and printed on Wyoming Department of Education letterhead, amply provides to all concerned citizens that his political myopia is truly out of control.
Superintendent Schroeder’s press release, as ill-informed as it is written, disregarded existing USDA efforts to ensure that every Wyoming child has access to the sustenance needed to grow into healthy, productive adults. Non-discrimination statements protect those who are the most vulnerable and the decision to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Title IX non-discrimination statement will provide extra safety and ensure good nutrition for every student.
Schroeder’s statement, that adding these protected classes “is about forcing post-modernist thinking on people who refuse to embrace the same, and it is about imposing a value system on the majority of Wyomingites who’s (sic) faith or common sense inform them differently” shows his lack of understanding of Wyoming and U. S. law. I know full well that teachers, parents, and concerned citizens are outraged by his shameless and venomous words.
The citizens of Wyoming believe in education as the foundation for a successful life. There are thousands who are outraged by Schroeder’s mentality about education, but also recognize that he can be voted out of office! A successful life for our students begins with leadership at the state level which I will provide.
Schroeder, who has been cloistered in private religious schools and recently moved to the Equality State two years ago, has erroneously failed to acknowledge the very good people of Wyoming and our educational system. His conscious and amply flawed assessment of who we are, our desires to provide the best in education, and support our children’s future doesn’t exist within him. Being an “outsider”, Schroeder is steeped in an ideology that is Washington, D.C. based and again, he consciously chooses to assume the worst in the citizens of Wyoming with our children.
On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision written by Justice Neil Gorsuch that gender identity and sexual orientation are indeed protected classes. The USDA decision merely puts an appropriate exclamation on that decision. It will allow students to feel safer, perform better and understand that their school and the State of Wyoming do have their back!
As your next Superintendent of Public Instruction, a lifelong educator, advocate, and Native son of Wyoming I will ensure the delivery of an exceptional education, provide greater support for our teachers, the University of Wyoming, our seven community colleges, and be that exemplary leader for education.