DON GROTTING - SUPERINTENDENT - BEAVERTON, OR

As BSD prepares for the mandatory all-staff Equity Summit the following month, Don joins one of the team's meetings to share his views.

Don said to the team, "I do want the message to get out there that this [anti-racism training] isn’t optional anymore. We’ve waited for the willing, and if you’re not willing then maybe this isn’t the right place for you to work. Maybe we can free up your future, because if we’re going to become an anti-racist school district, it cant just be a few people, it needs to be everybody, to include our staff, our students, our community, eventually everyone."

As we've covered elsewhere, Katherine Watkins took Don's views and ran with them, so to speak, during the Equity Summit.

Video recordings of the Equity Summit were leaked to the media. Below is one article by Fox News that shared the statements, other information they uncovered, and the district's official response (which was to distance themselves from the two teachers who made threats and attempted to incite violence).

Oregon teacher: White educators should be 'as bold' as Capitol rioters in anti-racism push

See for yourself how many of the BSD staffers respond to Don's attempt to do damage control. What's puzzling is how they rush to defend Katherine Watkins and Stephanie Yelder and urge Don to expose whoever leaked the videos. How did Katherine and Stephanie become the victims here?

Email #1 - Email #2 - Email #3 - Email #4

To aid in their response, it also appears BSD engaged with at least one outside firm for help (Email to JKotting). More tax dollars wasted thanks to Don and this radical faith.

Finally, we see Don's team preparing his next email to BSD staff. You mean he doesn't write those emails himself? True. (Email from David - Email from Shellie)

Unfortunately for Don and his leadership team, his statement that started this whole situation was leaked and subsequently picked up by many news sources. Here is one example:

Leaked Audio: Superintendent Tells Teachers CRT ‘Isn’t Optional Anymore…If You’re Not Willing Then Maybe This Isn’t The Right Place For You’

Many parents and community members become aware of Don's views and his complete mishandling of the situation, including throwing those two teachers under the bus. They attempt to come to the aid of BSD staff in calling for action against Don, but are met with the same response from the BSD school board:

"The school board is dedicated to the work of becoming an anti-racist school district by providing a culturally relevant, responsive, and inclusive environment for all students, especially our most marginalized. We support and stand behind Superintendent Grotting in leading our school district."

It appears the Superintendent cannot be held to account for his words and actions. So much for having a Code of Professional Conduct.

Don shares with his cabinet an email thread he received from Carmen Urbina at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). He also adds that they (ODE) are getting calls also.

(Email from Carmen to Don)