From the President: President Sherri Schwanz issues statement on due process, freedom of speech

In recent weeks, educators across the nation have come under scrutiny for expressing personal opinions on their private social media platforms. Kansas is no exception.

The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) respects the confidentiality of our members. We proudly stand in support of our members and affirm the free speech rights of public school educators outside of the classroom. Threats against individuals or their livelihoods are inappropriate, and we unequivocally condemn all forms of political violence.

Educators already face numerous challenges, and now their jobs are at risk for expressing personal views in private settings. This makes it more difficult to retain quality educators at a time when Kansas schools need them most. Professionalism in education is one of KNEA’s core values. Educators serve as mentors and role models for our students and take great pride in that responsibility. With that responsibility comes the understanding of which topics are appropriate for classroom discussion. KNEA is committed to fostering safe learning environments that respect the rights of all Kansas students. Every student deserves to learn in a safe environment, and every educator deserves to work without fear.

Democracy is another core value of KNEA. We believe public education is the cornerstone of our republic, equipping individuals with the skills to be informed, engaged participants in our representative democracy. Freedom of speech is fundamental to a free society, and KNEA will always support our members when their rights are threatened. Our members are entitled to due process, which includes complete, thorough and fair investigations into any alleged actions.

KNEA urges public school leaders to uphold the legal and contractual rights of our members and to give equal weight to justice and due process.

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The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) is a state-level affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). NEA provides support to state affiliates through advocacy, legal support, grants, trainings and benefits. Organizing is at the heart of building stronger KNEA affiliates at the local level.