Debra Tisler, a former Fairfax County teacher, says she enrolled her youngest child in a private school after observing a decline in public education and what she views as increased political activism and developmentally inappropriate content. Lawmakers introduced HB 614 to update history and social science standards to include contributions from historically marginalized communities. Governor Abigail Spanberger's early actions have added momentum to the debate, but her stance on HB 614 remains unclear.
Virginia Mother, Former Teacher Withdraws Child From Public Schools Amid DEI Curriculum Debate
As Democrats retake control of the Virginia legislature and governor's mansion, a flurry of left-wing bills has been introduced to begin the legislative session, including one that would enshrine DEI in the classroom into law.(iStock)
Debra Tisler, a former Fairfax County public school teacher and mother of four, says she moved her youngest child into a private school after lawmakers introduced a proposal to embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) concepts into classroom standards.
Tisler, who taught in Fairfax County from 1997 to 2014, told Fox News Digital that she first noticed what she describes as a decline in public education around 2009. She said her decision was driven by concerns about rising political activism in schools and content she considers developmentally inappropriate for young children.
"I did not like seeing the developmentally inappropriate information that was being pushed onto children at a very young age," Tisler said in an interview. She added that parents in Fairfax County have long protested issues including gender-identity policies, sexually explicit material in library collections, and perceived drops in academic standards.
Proposed Legislation: HB 614
On the first day Democrats regained control of the Virginia legislature this month, Delegate Sam Rasoul introduced House Bill 614, which seeks to update history and social science standards. The bill's summary describes its goal as ensuring "comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive education" by requiring instructional materials and standards to include the "contributions, perspectives, and experiences of historically marginalized communities."
The summary lists groups to be represented, including racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people from various socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and "any other group of individuals that the Board of Education deems appropriate."
"Their focus is on developing the child's skills. It's an environment where each child is respected for their God-given abilities," Tisler said, explaining why she prefers a private school for her son. "Kids are not pitted against each other. He doesn't have to go to a classroom where it's the 'Hunger Games'—where if you don't believe in the political ideology, you're ousted."
Tisler added that in a private setting her son can focus on foundational skills such as reading, writing and math, without what she described as divisive or adult-related content being pushed on children.
Political Context
The article notes that Governor Abigail Spanberger, inaugurated on Jan. 17, has already taken steps that some view as signaling a policy shift; for example, her administration rescinded a prior 287(g) order that formalized cooperation with ICE. It remains unclear whether the governor supports HB 614. Neither her office nor Delegate Rasoul provided comment to Fox News Digital regarding the measure.
The piece also recalls a 2021 action by the Virginia Department of Education under then-Governor Ralph Northam, which released model guidance for the treatment of transgender students, including recommending that staff and students use chosen pronouns. That period coincided with a surge in parental-rights activism that helped elect Republican Glenn Youngkin in 2021; Democrats have since retaken the legislature.
Reflecting on her own experience as a public school teacher, Tisler said some administrators pressured teachers to adopt particular viewpoints in the classroom. "No teacher should stand for that. Political ideology doesn't belong in the classroom," she said.
She concluded: "I just decided I wanted him in an environment where he would grow and flourish with his basic skills — reading, writing, math — and not all this nonsense."
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