Willie Carver, a teacher at Montgomery County High School in Mount Sterling who is currently on sabbatical, painted a disheartening picture for House lawmakers hearing testimony on potential classroom censorship.
Carver said schools are not standing behind gay educators and LGBTQ youth, instead siding with parents who want to keep sensitive subjects out of the classroom. He said the result are policies that make many students and teachers feel invisible.
"This invisibility extends to all newly-politicized identities. Our administrators new directive is 'nothing racial.' Parents now demand alternative work when authors are Black or LGBTQ and we're talk to accommodate them, but I will not ethically erase Black or queer voices."Willie Carver, Montgomery County High School teacher
Despite the awards he's received, including being honored at the White House, Carver told Education Week he's unsure whether he'll return to the classroom.
Media outlets have reached out to Montgomery County Schools' superintendent for comment, but are awaiting a response.