Some parents slam Grapevine-Colleyville ISD over ‘attack on conservative Christians’
After a Colleyville Middle School teacher resigned last week over a video that sparked outrage, some parents criticized school officials for not doing enough to support conservative Christians while others said the teacher spoke out of frustration and that she was the victim of a witch hunt.
The parents commented during Monday’s school board meeting and on social media.
Lisa Grimes, who taught eighth grade discoveries and English language arts, resigned after a video captured her in the school hallway saying conservative Christians need “to get COVID and die” while speaking to other educators.
Michael Quinn, who spoke during the board meeting, said that Grimes’ statements on the video were awful and reprehensible.
But he added that Grimes was speaking out of frustration.
“I hear frustration, and I hear exhaustion, and she isn’t alone,” he said.
Quinn said Grimes was targeted, and the video was a form of entrapment.
But others in the audience questioned why the district isn’t listening to the conservative voices.
“This district really struck a nerve this week. I have a profound sadness about the attack on conservative Christians,” said Mario Cordova, who criticized district officials.
In the video, Grimes is seen talking with two other women in a hallway about COVID-19 vaccines and her frustration with how they’ve become political.
“The rest of my life is impacted because of politics?” Grimes said. “Because of conservative Christian crap?”
Last week, the school district issued a statement that said Grimes’ views do not reflect those of the school district, but the speakers weren’t convinced.
Mitchell Ryan, who sued the school district over its policies on limiting speech during board meetings, accused officials of having dismissive, condescending attitudes toward parents with conservative views.
“I am really imploring the board to work with parents. You are dismissing a majority of parents,” he said.
Other speakers were sympathetic toward Grimes.
Beverly Mavis said that teachers have multi-faceted jobs where they answer to stakeholders and spend some of their salaries on “directives.”
Teachers are trolled on social media and must defend themselves from “manufactured outrage,” Mavis said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 5:33 PM.