Lesbian elementary school teacher put on leave after showing students pictures of her wife

A lesbian art teacher in Texas has been put on paid administrative leave following a complaint by at least one parent regarding alleged conversations with students about her sexual identity.

Stacy Bailey, 31, an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Texas’ Mansfield Independent School District (MISD), has been suspended with pay since September 8.

Her suspension was implemented just one day after she reached out to counselors at another school in the district regarding adding protections for LGBTQ+ employees and students to MISD’s nondiscrimination policy. 

MISD released a statement on Tuesday, breaking protocol to cite the parent’s complaint which was received on August 23 as the cause for Bailey’s suspension, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Parents, students and staff at Charlotte Anderson showed up at the school district meeting on Tuesday in support of Bailey, who was named the school’s teacher of the year for 2016, seeking answers about her suspension.

Stacy Bailey was placed on paid leave on September 8, due to a complaint regarding alleged conversations with students about her sexual identity

‘[It’s MISD’s] general rule not to comment on employee personnel matters’ but Bailey’s personnel matter ‘has created disruption to the Charlotte Anderson Elementary School educational environment,’ a spokesperson for MISD wrote in a statement emailed to the Dallas Morning News.

The statement went on to say that Bailey ‘insists that it is her right and that it is age appropriate for her to have ongoing discussions with elementary-aged students about her own sexual orientation, the sexual orientation of artists, and their relationships with other gay artists.’

‘Ms. Bailey refused to follow administration’s directions regarding age-appropriate conversation with students,’ it read.

‘Parents have the right to control the conversation with their children, especially as it relates to religion, politics, sex/sexual orientation, etc.’

Bailey is seen here at left with her wife, Julie Vazquez, in a photo shared to social media

Bailey is seen here at left with her wife, Julie Vazquez, in a photo shared to social media

Third-grader Kain Hendrix (pictured), told board members that Bailey's suspension was unfair to the school's families, students and to Bailey, and that he was sad Bailey was no longer his art teacher

Third-grader Kain Hendrix (pictured), told board members that Bailey’s suspension was unfair to the school’s families, students and to Bailey, and that he was sad Bailey was no longer his art teacher

Bailey was named 2016 Charlotte Anderson Elementary School's Teacher of the Year, according to a tweet by a colleague, posted on May 8, 2017

Bailey was named 2016 Charlotte Anderson Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, according to a tweet by a colleague, posted on May 8, 2017

But at least some parents are left wondering why their children are being deprived of one of their favorite teachers, who was named 2016 Charlotte Anderson Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, according to a tweet by a colleague, posted on May 8, 2017.

Parent and school receptionist, Jennifer Kureska is one of them. 

‘I have seen Ms. Bailey teach and even read some of her lessons before, and never have I seen anything inappropriate,’ Kureska told the school board at a meeting on Tuesday. 

‘My daughters learned about Ms. Bailey’s family. They saw photos of them during her introduction. They learned about various artists. Not once did they ever say the conversation made them wonder about a gay lifestyle.’

Charlotte Anderson elementary third-grader Kain Hendrix, told board members that Bailey’s suspension was unfair to the school’s families, students and to Bailey, and that he was sad Bailey was no longer his art teacher.

‘Ms. Bailey was my teacher, my role model and someone who always cheered me up,’ said the nine-year-old. ‘Every time I go to art it is not the same.’

Bailey did not comment, but her attorney, Giana Ortiz, responded with a statement, also emailed to the Dallas Morning News. 

‘For Stacy, this entire ordeal began when she spoke with the students about her family which, for Stacy, included her wife,’ Ortiz wrote. 

Bailey's attorney, Giana Ortiz expressed 'shock [at] the school district's decision to speak openly about a personnel matter - Stacy's administrative leave - in spite of its legal obligations of confidentiality'

Bailey’s attorney, Giana Ortiz expressed ‘shock [at] the school district’s decision to speak openly about a personnel matter – Stacy’s administrative leave – in spite of its legal obligations of confidentiality’

The Star-Telegram obtained text messages between Sheira Petty, the principal of Charlotte Anderson show here in a staff photo, and another staff member referred to as Donna, from August 23 where Petty refers to an email from a parent that had been sent to MISD Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas and the school board 

The Star-Telegram obtained text messages between Sheira Petty, the principal of Charlotte Anderson show here in a staff photo, and another staff member referred to as Donna, from August 23 where Petty refers to an email from a parent that had been sent to MISD Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas and the school board 

‘The District appears to speak for Stacy when it states that she “insists it is her right and that it is age appropriate” to discuss matters including ongoing discussions about her own sexuality. This is absolutely false. Further, she never received directives to change her behavior – and never refused to follow any directive.’ 

The Star-Telegram obtained text messages between Sheira Petty, the principal of Charlotte Anderson and another staff member referred to as Donna, from August 23 where Petty refers to an email from a parent that had been sent to MISD Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas and the school board.

The contents of the referenced email have not been revealed, but Donna texted back to Petty, asking if her memory was correct in that ‘something similar has occurred in past years?’

Donna’s text back did not clarify whether she means involving Bailey, or simply in general with reference to whatever was mentioned in the email. 

Petty replied, ‘To my knowledge she had never gone to this extent,’ and that, ‘She has said she had a girl friend and she showed a slide show of her friends that included [her] girlfriend.’

It should be noted that Bailey’s attorney referred to her romantic partner, Julie Vazquez, as her wife, not as her girlfriend. 

‘In talking with HR it was always determined I was NOT to tell her she can’t say certain things,’ Petty wrote.

In reply, Donna wrote that Petty should contact MISD Associate Superintendent Kim Cantu the next morning ‘for guidance’ and said that she would let Dr. Vaszauskas know that they would ask human resources ‘how best to handle the parent’s concern, employee’s rights, & appropriate administrative action.’

Petty then replied that she had responded to the email to let the parent know she would look into his concerns, and that the superintendent and the school board were copied on the reply email. 

Petty is seen here at right in a photo from the Charlotte Anderson Elementary School's website

Petty is seen here at right in a photo from the Charlotte Anderson Elementary School’s website

The Star-Telegram obtained text messages between Sheira Petty, the principal of Charlotte Anderson and another staff member referred to as Donna, from August 23 where Petty refers to an email from a parent that had been sent to MISD Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas and the school board

The Star-Telegram obtained text messages between Sheira Petty, the principal of Charlotte Anderson and another staff member referred to as Donna, from August 23 where Petty refers to an email from a parent that had been sent to MISD Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas and the school board

The text messages obtained by the Star-Telegram are shown here 

The exchange said that Petty should contact MISD Associate Superintendent Kim Cantu the next morning 'for guidance' and said that she would let Dr. Vaszauskas know that they would ask human resources 'how best to handle the parent’s concern, employee’s rights, & appropriate administrative action.' Charlotte Anderson Elementary School is pictured

The exchange said that Petty should contact MISD Associate Superintendent Kim Cantu the next morning ‘for guidance’ and said that she would let Dr. Vaszauskas know that they would ask human resources ‘how best to handle the parent’s concern, employee’s rights, & appropriate administrative action.’ Charlotte Anderson Elementary School is pictured

Meanwhile, on August 25, two days after this text message exchange, Bailey sent an email to the school district inquiring about whether there was a gay/straight alliance group so she could connect with the faculty members who organized the group regarding nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

‘I think it is important that MISD starts movement towards progress now,’ Bailey’s email, obtained by the Dallas Morning News, read. ‘We have many LGBTQ teachers, students, and families in this district. We deserve the right to feel protected by our district.’

On September 7, she sent a similar email to counselors at the Ben Barber Innovation Academy, which is also an MISD school. 

Cantu then sent Bailey a letter, dated September 8, informing her she had been placed on paid administrative leave, ‘until an investigation is completed.’ 

MISD has maintained it was the parent complain that brought on Bailey’s suspension.   

‘Again, this situation is not about Ms. Bailey’s inquiries regarding the District’s nondiscrimination policies,’ the MISD statement said. 

‘Rather, it is a matter of parents having certain rights pertaining to the topics to which their children are exposed and the District’s right and responsibility to ensure age-appropriate instruction.’

Two days after this text message exchange, Bailey sent an email to the school district inquiring about whether there was a gay/straight alliance group so she could connect with the faculty members who organized the group regarding nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression

Two days after this text message exchange, Bailey sent an email to the school district inquiring about whether there was a gay/straight alliance group so she could connect with the faculty members who organized the group regarding nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression

Ortiz expressed ‘shock [at]  the school district’s decision to speak openly about a personnel matter – Stacy’s administrative leave – in spite of its legal obligations of confidentiality.’

Ortiz said the District’s actions violate Stacy’s rights under the U.S. Constitution, and that MISD is trying to ‘silence the families and staff at Charlotte Anderson’ who suport Bailey and want to see her reinstated as their children’s art teacher. 

‘The fact is that she was placed on leave after years of exemplary work based on a single parent complaint,’ Ortiz wrote.  

Since Bailey’s suspension, community members created a petition seeking the changes to the MISD’s nondiscrimination policy that Bailey had sought, which has garnered more than 1,000 signatures.

‘Currently, Mansfield ISD does not protect their LGBT employees and students under their non-discrimination policy,’ the petition read. 

‘If you agree that LGTB employees and students deserve to be treated as equals and to be protected under the policy please sign.’

Several dozen also showed up at a school board meeting on Tuesday to seek answers about her suspension.  

The district’s local policy states: ‘The District prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against any employee on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.’

The district said on March 9, ‘Mansfield ISD is committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees’ and it does not ‘condone harassment or discrimination of any kind toward anyone.’

Bailey reportedly wanted to change that language to be similar to the nondiscrimination policy of the nearby Fort Worth school district. 

That policy states that the district prohibits discrimination against ‘any employee on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and expression, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.’ 

Bailey’s wife, Vazquez, told the Dallas Morning News that she was thankful for everyone’s support of her partner.

‘It is so appreciated, and it shows how the family of Charlotte Anderson Elementary is,’ Vazquez said. 

‘They support each other, they love each other and are there for each other.’

Bailey's wife, Julie Vazquez, told the Dallas Morning News that she was thankful for everyone's support of her partner. Bailey is pictured

Bailey’s wife, Julie Vazquez, told the Dallas Morning News that she was thankful for everyone’s support of her partner. Bailey is pictured



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