by Staff Reporter | Apr 10, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
A transgender high school teacher received a three-year suspension of his teaching certificate for multiple alleged offenses, which included discussing his sex life and conducting private storage closet excursions with students.
Erin Quigley — a man who identifies as a woman — up until recently taught sports medicine for Amphitheater High School at Amphitheater Public Schools (APS) in Tucson.
In response to an investigation launched last year by the Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE), Quigley agreed to a negotiated settlement in which Quigley’s teaching certificate would be suspended for three years. Quigley also agreed to take the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Prevention and Correction course.
ASBE’s case file on Quigley noted that he gave a student a gold necklace under the pretext of being a “secret admirer” and texted that student to discuss his personal life. According to ASBE, Quigley regularly gave out his personal phone number to students. On at least one occasion, Quigley was reported to have given his home address as well when he invited the entire class to his house for a Thanksgiving dinner.
The student gifted the necklace also reported that Quigley publicly discussed his sex life with students, offering details about how he had sex with many women in the past. Quigley also reportedly encouraged his students to share their sex lives — such as whether they were sexually active or if they needed Quigley to buy condoms for them — and other private information with him.
Another student in Quigley’s class reported that Quigley would periodically leave his classroom to take several other students into a storage closet for up to 20 minutes at a time, leaving the other students unattended.
Quigley also reportedly asked students to hook him up with their “hot aunts.”
In one reported instance, Quigley participated in a prank requested by another student in which Quigley told a female student that he heard two heartbeats through his stethoscope on her midsection, and offered to buy her a pregnancy test.
Quigley also reportedly divulged details of the abuse he experienced from his father, as well as the gender transition processes he had yet to undertake.
ASBE further reported that Quigley managed multiple school clubs granting him off-campus time and access to his students.
ASBE began investigating Quigley after receiving a report of unprofessional conduct from the high school’s general counsel and associate to the superintendent last January.
According to a feature by Northern Arizona University (NAU), Quigley received his Career and Technical Education (CTE) Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) in 2015, followed by a CTE graduate certificate in 2016.
However, neither of NAU’s commencement programs from 2015 (May, December) listed any CTE BSED candidates named “Erin Quigley,” nor do they list any individuals with the last name “Quigley.” NAU ceased digitizing its full commencement programs after 2015.
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by Elizabeth Troutman | Apr 8, 2024 | Education, News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
Arizona State University plans to use taxpayer dollars to host a talk by former Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi on Monday.
Pelosi will have a conversation with Obama administration strategist David Axelrod as part of the ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ “Democracy at Work” series. The event is only open to ASU faculty, staff, and students.
Pelosi served as speaker of the house from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023.
The talk comes as Pelosi has been actively campaigning for President Joe Biden’s reelection. In March, Biden, former President Barack Obama, and Pelosi held a virtual rally to celebrate the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They touted the ACA for lowering the cost of healthcare, and warned against former President Donald Trump’s efforts to repeal the ACA.
Pelosi has a history of championing left-wing causes. Despite claiming to be Catholic, Pelosi has said it is a “sin” to restrict access to abortion. As a congresswoman, she supported abortion on demand up to the moment of birth.
Other speakers in the “Democracy at Work” series include former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, journalist Karl Rove, Obama adviser David Plouff, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, ASU President Michael Crow, and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.
Axelrod is professor of practice at Arizona State University and senior political commentator for CNN. He is the host of the “Axe Files” and is the founding director of the University of Chicago’s non-partisan Institute of Politics.
Patrick Kenney, the Dean of ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, did not immediately respond to AZ Free News’ request for comment.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 6, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Flagstaff schools are gearing to update their sex ed curriculum with material introducing gender ideology.
Gender ideology topics, such as gender identity and transgenderism, would be introduced to Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) students as young as the fifth grade, per the district’s ongoing review of its Social/Sexual Health Curriculum for grades 2, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
The district last updated their sex ed curriculum in 2006. As the existing curriculum is nearly 20 years old, the curriculum doesn’t include any discussions of gender ideology; rather, the curriculum clearly distinguishes sex education content between the two genders.
A sexual health educator brought in by the district to advise on the curriculum updates — Sydney Tolchinsky with Coconino County Health and Human Services — told the district in a meeting earlier this year that fifth graders could be transgender and not speaking openly about it. That’s why, Tolchinsky advised district officials, schools should leave it up to the students to pick which classroom they attend to receive their sex education.
Under the existing curriculum, sex education classes for grades 5 and 7 occur in gender-segregated classrooms. Coeducational classes don’t occur until grades 9 and 11.
Tolchinsky further advised the district to get rid of gender-based distinctions in lessons in order to be inclusive of transgender students, such as saying “people who have periods” rather than teaching students that only biological females have periods.
“What we’ve started doing is just not having different lessons, we just have the same lesson in both rooms to be really inclusive of all genders, and trying to change our language, instead of saying ‘girls have periods and boys don’t,’ saying ‘people with a uterus are going to have periods most likely and people without a uterus won’t,’” said Tolchinsky. “Sometimes that might mean a boy might have a period and girls might not have a period for a lot of reasons.”
Failing to have a menstrual period as a biological female is a condition known as “amenorrhoea.” Unless a female is pregnant, breastfeeding, experiencing menopause, or underwent surgery to remove the uterus or ovaries, amenorrhea is a sign of a condition warranting medical attention.
Common causes of amenorrhea include major hormone disruptions caused by emotional stress, extreme weight loss, excessive exercise, or reproductive disorders. Untreated, amenorrhea can present many health risks: reduced fertility, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, increased risk of early onset osteoporosis, and premature menopause and aging.
For males, phallic bleeding may indicate a variety of medical conditions: physical trauma, balanitis, prostatitis, urinary tract infection, ruptured blood vessels, infection, a reaction to medications, or even cancer.
Under Tolchinsky’s suggested teachings, students may believe that conditions like amenorrhea or phallic bleeding are normal and not a cause for concern.
FUSD Assistant Superintendent Lance Huffman agreed with Tolchinsky that gender-neutral language eliminating gender differences would be beneficial.
“We might want to shift to ‘people’ language rather than just boys and girls so some people get periods or people with a uterus may and people with a penis will not,” said Huffman.
Arizona doesn’t require schools to teach sex ed at any level. However, the state does require parents to “opt in” with written permission for all grade levels. Should parents opt out, each individual school provides alternative instruction.
In 2021, the legislature approved a bill requiring, in part, parental consent for discussions of gender ideology in sex ed. Then-Governor Doug Ducey vetoed the legislation, critiquing the bill language as “overly broad and vague,” which the governor said would cause misinterpretations by schools and inhibit child abuse prevention education in early grades.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 6, 2024 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help educate Arizona students about the history of communism met its demise in the Governor’s Office.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2629, which would have “establishe[d] November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day and require[d] the State Board of Education to create a list of recommended resources for mandatory instruction on the topic in certain public school courses” – according to the Arizona House of Representatives’ summary. The bill was sponsored by House Speaker Ben Toma.
In her veto letter back to the Speaker, Hobbs opined that his legislation was “too prescriptive in dictating instructional requirements to education professionals.” She pointed to a bill signed into law in 2022, which was sponsored by State Representative Nguyen, as the “appropriate process to modify academic content as it ensures that changes to standards are evaluated by experts in a holistic manner across grade levels, and the public is provided with ample opportunity for review and input.” The Democrat governor “strongly urge[d] the State Board of Education to take action to begin the process of updating the Social Studies Standards and address the issues covered in this legislation.”
Hobbs did promise to “proclaim this November 7 as Victims of Communism Day in sharing the spirit of this Legislation.”
Speaker Toma was outraged by the governor’s action. In a statement following the veto, he wrote, “I find Governor Hobbs’ veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of communist Romania, I have firsthand knowledge of the devastating impact these ideologies have inflicted on billions worldwide. Communism’s legacy is marked by death, oppression, deprivation, economic suffering, and the shredding of all that binds families and communities together. It is a history that must be remembered and taught, not dismissed, ignored, or vetoed.”
Toma added, “The Governor’s veto and the limited bipartisan support for HB 2629 reflects a deeply concerning trend where the education of our students on fundamental historical truths is becoming a partisan issue. This should not be a matter of politics, but a matter of ensuring our future generations are well-informed, critical thinkers who appreciate the freedoms they have. Sadly, Governor Hobbs has denied Arizona students a crucial opportunity: to learn from the past and understand the sacrifices of those who suffered under communist regimes.”
The speaker concluded his statement by addressing Hobbs’ suggestions and promise, saying, “While I respect the Governor’s gesture to revise our state’s Social Studies Standards, I simply do not trust her administration’s ability or willingness to accurately reflect communism’s legacy. The academic requirements must be codified in statute, as my bill would have done.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Elizabeth Troutman | Apr 5, 2024 | Education, News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
The University of Arizona is getting a new president.
University President Robert C. Robbins told the Arizona Board of Regents on April 2 that he will step down by the end of his current contract as soon as his successor is ready.
“After significant consideration and personal contemplation, I informed the regents this morning that I will step down as president of the University of Arizona after fulfilling the terms of my current contract,” Robbins said in a statement. “When a new president has been appointed by ABOR and she or he is prepared to start sooner than the end date of my contract, I will ensure a smooth transition to my successor and step aside earlier.”
Robbins has served as president since 2017. He has been under fire over the last six months because of the university’s $177 million deficit.
“The University of Arizona has and will continue to tackle the more pressing challenges of our time,” Robbins said. “And it is time to begin to think about what is next for the university, and I will continue to serve the institution with pride and work with ABOR to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time.”
Arizona Board of Regents Chair Cecilia Mata said the board plans to start a national search for the 23rd president of the university soon, and Robbins will serve as president until his successor is ready to start. His current contract expires June 30, 2026.
As president, Robbins oversaw the creation of the new Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, as well as the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history, Fuel Wonder, which has raised $2.2 billion toward the $3 billion goal.
“The University of Arizona has a long-standing reputation as an elite public research university – one with a rich tradition of service and a leader in advancing new frontiers and making remarkable discoveries,” he said.
Robbins said this is a difficult but necessary decision. He said he has no doubt the university is in good hands.
“It has been a true honor to lead the University of Arizona for so many years, particularly during a time of transformational change in higher education and with challenges in the world around us,” he said. “I am proud of the many advancements we made together in elevating the institution, by enhancing the student experience; by attracting and retaining world-class faculty and staff; by increasing our research funding and philanthropy; by achieving significant milestones in science, astronomy and medicine, among many other disciplines; by engaging our indigenous tribes and rural communities; and by improving the lives of Arizona residents and the global community.”
Mata said the board appreciates Robbins’ dedication to UA’s mission and values.
“He has built a legacy of commitment to student access and success, as well as advancement of the university’s land-grant mission,” she said. “President Robbins implemented a strategic plan focused on the opportunities and challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His keen ability to weave together the biological, digital and technology sectors to further advance the mission of the university has led to exceptional accomplishments.”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
by Elizabeth Troutman | Mar 31, 2024 | Education, News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
A Flagstaff elementary school posted fliers for an LGBT “name change clinic” at its elementary school.
DeMiguel Elementary School in the Flagstaff Unified School District advertised one•n•ten’s legal name change clinic, which offers to help minors change their legal name for their “transition,” the Daily Signal reported.
“Are you a trans or gender nonconforming individual and need help legally changing your name?” the poster says. “We are collaborating with One-N-Ten and the Northern Arizona law firm of Aspey Watkins & Diesel, PLLC to host a hybrid (virtual & in-person) Name Change Clinic, with 1-1 legal consultation!”
LGBT youth organization one•n•ten provides LGBT programs to minors as young as 11 years old. One•n•ten “envisions a world where all LGBTQ youth and young adults are embraced for who they are, actively engaged in their communities, and empowered to lead.”
Programs at one•n•ten include “SexFYI!,” a monthly sexual health program for ages 14 – 17 and 18 – 24 “that is inclusive of their body, gender identity and sexual orientation, including fluidity therein.”
In a Feb. 26 meeting, the district also proposed “updating” the verbiage in official district policies from “boy/girl” to “people,” allowing students to attend sex education classes designed for the opposite sex, and updating curriculum to be more “inclusive” of gender-fluid ideology.
School board president Christine Fredericks responded to parental complaints, saying “Bring it on.” She told parents she would “never apologize for being inclusive.”
Peoria Unified School District Governing Board member Heather Rooks posted on X that Fredericks’ indifference about parental rights should inspire Arizonans to prevent her reelection.
“Parents, it’s time to “Bring it on” in November,” she said. “Vote these people out!”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
