The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is under criticism from parents and community members over a BrainPOP lesson taught to elementary students that compares the struggles of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators, to those of LGBTQ+ service members.
The lesson, part of BrainPOP’s supplemental curriculum, has sparked significant backlash due to its inclusion of a call to action and a cartoon depiction of a newspaper headline reading “LGBT Welcome in the Military,” showing protestors with a rainbow banner outside the White House.
In the video, it states, “Thanks to pioneers like the Red Tails, the armed services integrated shortly after the war. It was an early victory for the budding Civil Rights movement. In the decades to come, the federal government would expand its role in protecting the rights of African Americans and the rights of other marginalized groups. Injustice never ends overnight. It takes brave people to challenge it and show everyone else that there’s another way.”
People in the community have raised an alarm about SUSD’s approval of hundreds of supplemental resources, like BrainPOP, without any committee review or community input.
The online nature of these platforms allows publishers to update content at any time, limiting transparency. For example, in a course given to 2nd graders, a search for “gender” on BrainPOP yields topics such as Pride Month, personal pronouns, sex determination, women’s suffrage, and feminism, which push ideological agendas over academic focus.
BrainPOP, hosting over 1,000 animated films for K-8 students, has been controversial since introducing LGBTQ+ content in 2017 following the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Additional concerns stem from lessons like “Black Lives Matter Protests,” which discuss racism and cite the deaths of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown, ignoring essential facts, such as the reality that each of the men acted as the main aggressor in the events leading to their deaths. The character in this lesson speaks on the Black Lives Matter Movement, saying, “The protests we’re seeing today aren’t really about that sort of thing. They are about structural racism in our society. A built-in system of bias that makes life easier for white people and more difficult for black people and other people of color. It puts them at greater risk for poverty, unemployment, and disease.”
The growing dissatisfaction with these lessons taught to K-8 students has led to the creation of the Empower Hotline, a platform for reporting lessons that deviate from academic standards by focusing on race, ethnicity, gender ideology, social-emotional learning, or inappropriate sexual content.
The hotline’s goal is to empower parents to ensure education prioritizes individual merit and academic rigor.
Arizona law prohibits sex education before fifth grade, and the 2025 Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor mandates parental notifications for materials addressing gender identity or sexual orientation.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona State Representative John Gillette (R-LD30) shared a post on Wednesday containing images and video footage taken at Dobson High School from Turning Point Action Field Representative Angel Guess. The images and video footage depicted Black Lives Matter (BLM) and pro-LGBTQ material in the classroom.
In her post, Guess wrote, “Attention Mesa Residents, mothers, fathers… this is what your taxpayer dollars pay for.. School starts tomorrow [at Dobson High] and YOUR kids are walking into this. Video from today!”
🚨 🚨Attention Mesa Residents, mothers, fathers.. this is what your tax payer dollars pay for..
School starts tomorrow @DobsonHigh and YOUR kids are walking into this. Video from today!@mpsaz Mesa Public School District is this what parents subscribe to when they sign your… pic.twitter.com/WtVEQOjUZR
She continued, “Mesa Public School District is this what parents subscribe to when they sign your enrollment agreement? Not my child! Who agrees?”
Sharing the post, Representative Gillette declared it to be “Another advertisement for the Arizona ESA voucher program.”
Another advertisement for the Arizona ESA voucher program. Govt schools can't understand why their student count keeps falling. Woke indoctrination, DEI, and poor academic results are destroying government schools. https://t.co/eBSTgoCRDX
— Rep. John Gillette AZ House LD30 (@AzRepGillette) July 31, 2025
“Govt schools can’t understand why their student count keeps falling. Woke indoctrination, DEI, and poor academic results are destroying government schools,” Gillette added.
The post to X has since garnered the attention of former Republican Congressional candidate Josh Barnett, who observed, “This is why school choice is so important and allowing Private/charter schools to prosper.”
Senior Advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media Kari Lake excoriated the district, writing, “Stop radicalizing our children! Cut all taxpayer funding to woke public schools. Our kids deserve better.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, Dobson High School has a history of alignment with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts such as the “No Place For Hate” (NPFH) program of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Arizona, which named Dobson as an NPFH school in 2022.
As recently as July 18th, Arizona Women of Action posted a thread on X, making serious allegations that “There are explicit books in MPS libraries. High schools. Middle schools. Even ELEMENTARY schools.”
🚨🚨🚨 ATTENTION Mesa Public Schools Residents
There are explicit books in MPS libraries. High schools. Middle schools. Even ELEMENTARY schools.
Watch these videos, then please follow the call to action at the end.
— Arizona Women of Action (@azwomenofaction) July 18, 2025
The texts reportedly include: “Push” by Sapphire, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison (which both detail sexual abuse), “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, which has been removed from schools in 13 states for references to drug use, sexual abuse, and suicide, and “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher, which is available in elementary schools and has been challenged in dozens of school districts for its sexually explicit content and discussion of suicide.
Among many issues, the past two elections have been a referendum on the public school system throughout our country. And that’s especially true here in Arizona. The people have shown that they are tired of the leftist indoctrination, wasted taxpayer dollars on declining test scores, attacks on parental rights, and more.
Immediately after his inauguration, President Trump proved that cleaning up our schools wasn’t just a campaign talking point. He issued an executive order (EO) ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling, and the U.S. Department of Education took action to eliminate harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It’s been a breath of fresh air, frankly, but the woke crazies in our state are not going down without a fight.
Back in February, a teacher at Marana High School was suspended after he challenged President Trump’s denial of the existence of more than two genders during a classroom lecture. Then, in May, an advocacy group released audio from inside a Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) ninth grade health classroom where an alleged teacher gave a “lesson” on LGBTQ issues and criticized religious texts. What any of this has to do with “health” is beyond us, but it certainly shows the lengths these crazies are willing to go in order to push their radical message.
Not wanting to be outdone, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) also decided to get into the mix…
Last Tuesday night, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board held what could only be described as a marathon meeting, lasting six and a half hours, including the executive session. The agenda was packed with items, but one issue drew the most attention: the proposed adoption of a new Social Science curriculum.
Eighteen individuals participated in the public comment portion of the meeting. All but one focused on the curriculum. A significant majority urged the Board not to adopt it, citing deep concerns. Opponents argued that the curriculum was saturated with DEI narratives, anti-law enforcement bias, gender ideology, climate activism, misleading COVID-19 claims, and advocacy for student activism over academic learning. Their primary concern: the curriculum fosters political indoctrination, not education.
Despite their differences, both supporters and critics of the curriculum appeared to agree on two points: students need to be taught the truth about current events, and they must learn to think critically. The debate centers on what constitutes the truth and how critical thinking should be developed.
Those supporting the curriculum’s adoption argued that it presents an honest, if uncomfortable, portrayal of America, especially regarding race and law enforcement. The curriculum cites examples like the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. It emphasizes that Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot six times and killed by a white police officer, and points to the incident as emblematic of systemic racism.
The curriculum also discusses the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and its evolution from protesting police brutality to addressing broader systemic issues like housing, healthcare, and employment disparities for Black Americans.
Additional content includes explanations about gender identity, stating individuals can identify as male, female, both, or neither. The curriculum also addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the FDA approved two highly effective vaccines and suggesting that lockdowns saved lives. It frames the environmental benefits of lockdowns as evidence of climate change and the need for continued action.
One speaker supporting the curriculum even admitted that for those questioning these narratives, “I don’t know what to say.”
Critics, however, challenged these representations as incomplete or misleading. Regarding the Michael Brown case, there is no mention that the Department of Justice’s investigation found Brown was attacking the officer and trying to take his weapon—his DNA was found on the gun—and that the claim he had his hands up saying “don’t shoot” was debunked in court. By omitting these critical facts, the curriculum pushes a one-sided narrative that paints law enforcement as inherently racist.
If the goal were truly critical thinking, the curriculum would also include studies like that of a Harvard professor, who, despite his preconceived belief that there is racial bias in policing, found no racial bias in police shootings after analyzing hundreds of cases. An honest and open discussion would allow students to examine why Black Americans commit crimes at a rate disproportionate to their population, not just claim they are victims of systemic racism. Perhaps the high rate of crimes being committed by young Blacks might explain their high rate of involvement with the police. But with this curriculum, it is doubtful the students will ever have such a discussion.
Law enforcement professionals also voiced concerns. The President of the Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association, a former Scottsdale police officer, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office both criticized the curriculum’s anti-police tone. They warned that such content erodes trust between youth and law enforcement—trust, they say, is essential for community safety.
Rather than comparing the BLM movement to the civil rights movement and implying BLM has done great things for Blacks in America, why not tell the truth that the leaders of BLM stole money and bought houses for themselves? Or that several of the local chapters said nothing has been done by BLM to help Blacks in their communities.
Critics also took issue with how the curriculum handles topics like climate change and COVID-19. The omission of data showing that Antarctica has gained ice in recent years, information that contradicts climate change alarmism, is concerning. While skeptics of the climate narratives are called “science deniers,” the curriculum promotes the idea that there are more than two genders and that gender is fluid is a fact, when it’s really a denial of biological science.
On COVID-19, the curriculum claims the vaccines were effective at preventing infection but fails to acknowledge how the scientific narrative evolved. Initial claims about vaccine efficacy were later revised, with experts clarifying that while vaccines may not prevent infection, they can reduce the severity of symptoms. The curriculum also omits discussion of the high survival rate of COVID-19, 99%, particularly in children, and the long-term educational harm caused by prolonged school closures. There is no mention of the fact that the government actively blocked any negative discussion about the vaccine, including reporting on the severe negative side effects many people experienced.
One especially controversial element of the curriculum encourages students to take political action, such as organizing protests or social media campaigns, in support of transgender rights, or creating NGOs, leading critics to argue that it turns students into political activists.
Questions were also raised about how the curriculum was reviewed and recommended. Supporters of the adoption process claimed the committee’s work was “thorough and inclusive,” but the review committee was composed mostly of teachers, with only one community member, who happened to be the spouse of a former Board member, and no parents on the committee. One supporter of the curriculum told the Board members it was their responsibility to approve the committee’s recommendation, apparently without considering the curriculum themselves and just rubber-stamping the committee’s work. I don’t think so.
There are financial implications, too. Because the curriculum includes DEI and gender identity material, the SUSD risks losing funding—not just from government sources but also due to declining enrollment—as some families opt out of SUSD altogether. This ongoing trend of declining enrollment tracks with Dr. Menzel’s leadership of SUSD. Not only are students leaving, but critical, experienced staff and teachers are leaving. At this time, only about 50% of the eligible students attend SUSD—a dismal number, but reflective of just how well SUSD is perceived in the community.
On May 13th, board members Pittinsky, Sharkey and Lewis voted to defy Superintendent Menzel's "NO DEI" pledge and committed YOUR tax dollars for the purchase of DEI-filled curriculum.
— Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity (@ScottsdaleUnite) May 16, 2025
Keep in mind that indoctrination aims to instill a specific set of beliefs or ideas without allowing for critical thinking or questioning, whereas education encourages exploration, curiosity, and independent thought, fostering a deeper understanding through evidence and critical analysis.
After doing your research, ask yourself: Is this curriculum indoctrination or education? Which do you want for your child?
The current Board makeup makes any substantial changes in SUSD unlikely. Dr. Menzel’s apparent security in his position of “leadership” means we can expect him to continue his destruction of SUSD. I expect to see more 3–2 votes going forward and remain skeptical about the Board’s willingness or ability to restore trust and balance in SUSD and the classroom.
As this school year comes to an end, talk to your kids about what has gone on in their classrooms. What have they learned? Go to the SUSD website and look at the materials they will be using next year. If the information you are seeking is not available, use the Let’s Talk feature to question the staff and Dr. Menzel. If you find something objectionable, exercise your rights under Arizona law and opt your kid out of lessons.
Go to the Arizona Department of Education website and check the academic performance of your child’s school, or the new one they will be attending next year. Don’t fall for the SUSD hype of having so many A+ schools; rather, compare that rating to the academic performance of your schools. Does it meet your definition of A+? You just might be surprised at what you find.
Not every parent can take their child out of SUSD. Many will return next year, but despite the challenges, we must continue to strive for change in SUSD. Get involved. Go to Board meetings. Email the Board with your thoughts and concerns. Talk to the teachers. I know everyone is busy, but you can’t sit idly by and expect others to do the work by themselves. The number of people involved matters.
It’s your kid’s future we are talking about.
Mike Bengert is a husband, father, grandfather, and Scottsdale resident advocating for quality education in SUSD for over 30 years.
American Patriots believe in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. No one should be compelled to oppose their sincerely held beliefs, no matter how silly they may be. Freedom of speech is graciously bestowed upon the wise and the imbecile. It is the latter who scorn liberty and mock our institutions.
Chandler Unified School District (CUSD)
On April 17, 2025, AZ Free News exposed CUSD board president Patti Serrano who refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during a school board meeting. Video footage (below) shows Serrano standing, hand-over-heart, lips unmoving. CUSD residents say this is a persistent pattern of distasteful behavior.
According to AZ Free News, “Serrano’s refusal to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance aligns with her other progressive values: legalizing abortion, increasing gun control, advancing LGBTQ+ ideologies in minors, and supporting Islamic terrorist groups aligned with Palestine.” The article also said Serrano took an oath of office with her hand on the book “Life is a Banquet” instead of the traditional Bible.
What cause did Serrano swear to uphold in place of the U.S. Constitution? After that infamous Pledge of Allegiance, Serrano appears to bow her head in invocation. Since she doesn’t believe in God, who exactly is she praying to? These questions should alarm every CUSD parent and constituent who upholds the rule of law. The answers would be irrelevant if Serrano resigned from public office.
Phoenix Elementary School District (PESD)
PESD—the same district where former board member Jessica Bueno used personal property as collateral to bail out a convicted child sex offender—is home to leftist activist Alicia Vink.
Vink proudly backs the district’s Black Lives Matter Resolution in honor of the deceased convicted felon George Floyd. She has also worn cat ears in support of anti-Christian board members in the Washington Elementary School District (more on that later). Vink was determined to make a fool of herself at the April 8, 2025, school board meeting when she announced:
“I chose not to stand for our Pledge of Allegiance today because I will not stand for a national or state education system that is unjust—and not only doesn’t support our district values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but is actively fighting against us.”
Watch her speech below.
Vink declared that she “would not stand for any behavior that puts our kids at risk” as she proceeded to poison the mind of every student who attended or watched the meeting. Her self-serving antics are an embarrassment to all Arizonans and will only continue to drive families away from this failing institution.
PESD would be better off without Vink’s presence on the school board.
Washington Elementary School District (WESD)
In 2023, the WESD governing board voted 5-0 to terminate an 11-year student-teaching partnership with Arizona Christian University. WESD board member Tamillia Valenzuela took charge by removing the agreement from the consent agenda, claiming that ACU’s core beliefs on biblical marriage made gender-confused people feel “unsafe.”
Her sentiments were echoed by former board member Nikkie Whaley and current board members Kyle Clayton, Jenni Abbott, and Lindsey Peterson (Valenzuela, Clayton, and Abbott identify as LGBTQ). In July 2022, Whaley, Abbott, Peterson, and current (re-elected) board member Bill Adams voted in favor of an LGBTQ Resolution for elementary students. Adults who promote and celebrate multiple sexual identities in children bring shame and disgrace upon civilized societies. Note that during the ACU discussion, Valenzuela cited this resolution as just cause for discriminating against Christians.
Valenzuela, also known as “Cat Ears” among community members, has never stood to face the flag or recite the Pledge during school board meetings. However, she does take ownership in reading a land acknowledgement to shame Glendale and Phoenix residents with no connection to events that may have occurred over 500 years ago. Below are a few random timestamps to corroborate my claims:
April 24, 2025 – Valenzuela reads the land acknowledgement and remains seated during the Pledge
February 23, 2023 – Here is the discussion and vote to terminate WESD’s contract with ACU
Where are all the Patriots hiding?
The Founders (any 18th-century American, really) would be appalled by our present generation of so-called Patriots. We have the meanest cell phone and keyboard warriors across the Valley who won’t attend a board meeting, not even when something goes horribly wrong. Rather than proactively defend our youth, most constituents retreat to their echo chambers of digital outrage. I’m a member of several Facebook groups wherein parents devour each other while raging against board members, administrators, educators, and staff. This isn’t doing your kids any good.
Parents pay attention! Voters take notes! The issues in Arizona’s public education system must be confronted head-on.
In 2026, Serrano’s term in CUSD and Valenzuela’s and Clayton’s terms in WESD will end. Vink (who ran on an “Equity” platform in 2020) retained her seat, so residents are stuck with her until 2028. Still, two seats will open in PESD in 2026. According to Ballotpedia, the 2024 general elections were canceled for PESD due to a lack of opposition. The school board also gained a new member who never appeared on the ballot. There is no reason this should happen again.
I defy the card-carrying tactics and rhetoric of Patti Serrano, Alicia Vink, and Tamillia Valenzuela. Do Arizonans want to keep taking chances on communist sympathizers and social justice zealots controlling their children’s education? Out of 5 million residents in the Greater Phoenix Area, is no one else willing to publicly defend biblical principles, fight for conservative values, and uphold the U.S. Constitution?
It’s time we raise our standards and expectations of school district leadership. If we don’t, what hope does the next generation have?
