Last year Rickie Farah, a fourth-grade teacher at Johnson Elementary School, was named the district’s teacher of the year.

On Monday night, Carroll ISD school board administrators voted 3-2 in favor of disciplining Farah after a student in her class last year brought home a book that the parents said. child, violated their “morals and their faith”.

Tiffany Jewell’s “This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work” was described by Kirkus Reviews last year as a “guide to taking action against racism” . It was a New York Times bestseller and recommended by Oprah’s Book Club, Time, UNITED STATES TODAY, and other publications.

Two of the three directors who voted in favor of Farah’s reprimand were Hannah Smith and Cam Bryan, both of whom received money from parents, Matt and Sarah Muns, last year in their successful nominations for the seats in the school board, according to campaign fundraising documents obtained. through The morning news from Dallas.

Despite the relationship, they did not recuse themselves from voting. Administrator Eric Lannen also voted in favor of the teacher’s reprimand, while board chair Michelle Moore and administrator Sheri Mills opposed it.

Smith and Bryan were supported by the Southlake Families PAC, a group “unabashedly rooted in Judeo-Christian values,” which claimed victory for the outcome of the municipal and school elections last May.

Every candidate backed by the group, including Southlake Mayor John Huffman won with around 70% of the vote.

The PAC has raised more than $ 200,000 since 2020, according to an NBC report, and is aiming for another board seat with the school board’s special election next month. Candidate Andrew Yeager is supported by the Southlake families.

It’s not clear whether the school board can legally reprimand an educator, but this aspect of Carroll’s latest controversy is just one of many troubling things for parents in the district.

“The PAC has taken over our city,” said relative Jennifer Hough The news Wednesday. “This teacher is one of our best and brightest.”

Before Monday night’s vote, Mills alerted district teachers.

“I would like to let the teachers know, if you are worried about teaching in this school district, that you should watch this vote. I want you to know that you are right to be worried about whoever votes yes, ”Mills said.

A spokeswoman for Carroll ISD did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Yeager is expected to run against former educator Stephanie Williams for the vacant seat in Place 7. Former administrator David Almand resigned in July.

In NBC News’ “Southlake” podcast, Almand, who is retired, was featured in Episode 7, saying he was ready to step down from the controversial board of directors. He was in the process of leaving the district, he told Community Impact last summer.

The trickle down effect hits teachers and children as well, Hough said.

“It just killed the morale of the teachers here,” Hough said. “And who will end up getting hurt are the children.” That is why it is important to vote.