Action Alert: Peoria Unified School Board Meeting 9/11/25

Posted on by Linsay

9/10/25

Tell Peoria Unified School District NO on Harmful “Groomer” Policy 

All who live in PUSD need to be aware of President Rooks’ “No Grooming and Child Protection” policy that’s on the agenda for a first reading tomorrow night, as well as comments made by Rooks on a podcast this week.

We’ve detailed all of this in today’s Substack post, which you can read here, but here’s a summary:

  • This policy  uses the term “groomer” as a rhetorical weapon to instill fear and conjure up danger where it doesn’t necessarily exist.
  • It’s also used to target queer people and to shut down debate, all of which end up aiding and abetting real predators who then get away with sex trafficking and abuse.
  • In particular, this policy implies that most, if not all, public school educators are groomers incapable of protecting children.

In addition, in a recent appearance on the Myth of Education podcast, Rooks:

  • accused the Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association, Dr. Jennifer Katona, of being racist (6:45 timestamp)
  • asserted that only conservative board members care to protect children from pedophiles (19:08)
  • said educators who are left-leaning or progressive are even less likely to keep themselves or others from abusing children (19:26)
  • said that law enforcement officers and School Resource Officers (SROs) are more qualified than school staff at keeping children safe (21:00)
  • implies her belief that members of the LGBTQ community or those who may even be affirming to the LGBTQ community are inherent sexual deviants and/or exhibitionists (28:50)
  • says that progressivism promotes immorality 👀(28:14)
  • asserts that Christian teachers should freely share their faith with students (28:21)
  • that bible-reading should be mandated in public schools (28:46)
  • shared her support for school vouchers and privatization measures

Please take action by attending this Thursday’s meeting and/or contacting the PUSD governing board, Superintendent Somers, and board admin assistant. You can address any of the above points; we’ve also put together a sample letter, below, you can use for inspiration. 

Meeting details:

Peoria Unified School District

6330 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, Arizona 85306

Doors open at 6:00 PM (get there early)

Contact the Governing Board:

To view the agenda, click here, then click on the green “Agendas” button. Under “Meetings,” select “Regular Board Meeting” then “View the Agenda.” See Discussion Item 7.5.

Want to get more involved? Join the Peoria United Parent Council (PUPC). This district-wide parent group has been organized to offer parents opportunities to be influential voices in the decisions that affect our children’s education.

Click here to learn more or contact PUPC at peoriaupcmail@gmail.com.

Sample Letter to PUSD Board and Superintendent

I am writing today to share my concerns with the proposed “No Grooming and Child Protection” Policy 4-202.

The most obvious concern is the use of the term “grooming” without providing a definition of that term. Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be any reason given for the change of title. Given that this term is often used incorrectly, and sometimes to be purposefully misleading and divisive, I am curious to understand why President Rooks chose that terminology over what the policy experts at the Trust Model Policy Program have crafted.

In the past several years, the term “grooming” has been used by people who then turn around and support individuals and institutions that promote and even engage in actual grooming behaviors. Protecting children is one of our most sacred responsibilities, and it should never be used as a political tool.

Policies like this risk turning good teachers into suspects, not because of any wrongdoing, but because of vague language and overreach. That’s not justice—it’s overregulation and guilt by association. What’s more troubling is when those pushing these rules have supported institutions or leaders who’ve actually looked the other way on real abuse.

If we’re serious about protecting kids, we need clear standards, real accountability, and common-sense policies based on best practices and evidence—not fear. Political ideologies should not get in the way of what works. I recall a recent board meeting where board members discussed what they learned at the recent School Safety Summit.

One of the keynote speakers at that summit, Kenneth Trump, a lifelong educator and school safety expert has written extensively on this topic. In reference to his recent presentation in the Valley he said, “They [school districts] also need to invest in the kids themselves, social, emotional, mental health, supports for kids on the prevention side and to train our school staff on not just emergency plans and active shooters, but what to do in day to day security incidents.”

It is surprising that so many of the policies in PUSD over the last nine months go directly against what he and nearly all the other experts say schools need in order to keep children and staff safe. Why bother attending workshops and trainings if you refuse to apply the best practices you’ve learned? Are there any areas where you will trust the experts?

The students, families, and staff need for you to focus on what is best for ALL of them and to promote tried and true, effective policies and practices that sow trust and collaboration rather than narrow political ideologies that sow distrust and division.

Please reject the redline changes to this policy proposed by Mrs. Rooks. Not only are they unnecessary, they will only sow distrust, division and invite possible litigation.

Thank you for volunteer service, but that service is meaningless unless you promote policies that actually protect children instead of promoting your dangerous political ideologies.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.