Despite the left’s push to completely eradicate any influence of faith from the public education system, one Phoenix-area elementary school district has maintained a close connection with Arizona Christian University — until this year.
As a result of the contract between the Washington Elementary School District and the university, local schools had access to a pipeline from which newly accredited teachers could fill staffing shortages across the district.
One board member’s bitter tirade against Christianity, however, prompted the rest of the board to sever the beneficial relationship.
Tamillia Valenzuela, who was inexplicably wearing cat ears during the board meeting, declared her belief that any association with an organization expressing Christian values would pose a danger to the community —, particularly LGBTQ individuals like herself.
After claiming that she “full-heartedly” supports the concept of religious freedom, she added that declarations on ACU’s website struck her as objectionable.
Valenzuela admitted that it is “really difficult” to find teachers, but determined that recruiting from a faith-centered university is even worse than experiencing a widespread shortage of educators.
The board member, who describes herself as a “bilingual, disabled, neurodivergent Queer Black Latina” as well as with profane adjectives like “Latina AF,” “Queer AF,” and “Witchy AF,” explained how she believes Christians are a personal threat and a bad influence on the next generation.
“Because if we’re bringing people in whose mission, who have been told with their institution’s education that is very plainly on their website … that above all else, it is to influence people to be Biblically-minded, how does that hold space for people of other faiths?” she asked. “How does that hold space for our members of the LGBT community? How does that hold space for people who think differently and do not have the same beliefs?”
Her anti-Christian remarks have resulted in calls for her to step down from the board.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator @anthonykernAZ calls on Tamillia Valenzuela to Immediately Resign from School Governing Board After Discriminatory Remarks
Full press release ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ql30JBrLWZ
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) March 3, 2023
Another board member offered similar, albeit less incendiary, views on the topic.
Kyle Clayton criticized ACU for “teaching with a biblical lens,” noting that he was upset by the university’s “core values” and “statement of faith” after reviewing its website.
“Proselytizing is embedded into how they teach,” he added. “And I just don’t believe that that belongs in schools.”
