UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: BABLER PRINCIPAL DISTRACTS FROM BIERMANN CONCERNS BY TELLING PARENTS THERE'S NO DEI COMMITTEE AT HER SCHOOL. IS IT AN ATTEMPT TO MISLEAD?

Babler Elementary principal Andrea Lockwood is responding to parents who expressed concerns about parent Jennifer Biermann being on the school's diversity committee, also known as DEI or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

All the background details are below, in the 2 most recent posts about this, but, in summary, Biermann smeared newly elected school board member Izzy Imig, a minority woman from Iraq. Community outrage ensued on social media and on morning radio earlier this week. One concern: Biermann is involved in diversity efforts at Babler Elementary, yet smeared a minority woman.

Lockwood's response that the school doesn't have a DEI committee made one parent reach out to let us know it's "not true" that the school has a DEI committee. Which makes it seem like Biermann is not involved with diversity efforts at the school. 

Lockwood also told us that there's no DEI committee.

After we pressed for clarification, Lockwood then wanted to have a phone conversation. That's how we learned that, instead of DEI, it's called the "Diverse Together committee."

CLAIMS OF NO DEI

Here are the emails Lockwood has sent out:

Another said the same thing.

By phone, Lockwood described the "Diverse Together" committee as a way for students to describe how they celebrate holidays like Ramadan and Passover, in the morning announcements over the loud speaker at school. 

It's not likely anyone would seek to cancel something so innocent sounding. 

So, it was a surprise when Lockwood told us she wasn't sure whether the committee would continue next year.

Some of you have reacted and said--they'd stop the committee rather than removing the woman?? 

NOW IT MAKES MORE SENSE

The lack of directness from Lockwood bothered people who know what the committee is. They sent us these screenshots which explain, in writing, the agenda of the committee.

YES IT DOES INCLUDE DEI

It includes DEI training for teachers and, although misspelled, Biermann's name is listed as a member. (We had already been told by others on the committee that Beirmann is on it, too, but Lockwood didn't confirm that.)

This is yet another misstep from the district with transparency about diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. 

Last school year, an email was sent to Rockwood teachers telling them how to hide controversial (DEI related) lesson content. You can read more about that here.

The district ended up canceling or changing several lesson materials after parent complaints. You can read more about Rockwood's controversial lesson content in the Agenda vs. Academics section on this site, as well as the Questionable Books section on this site. 

When speaking about The Way Forward, the district's plan for equity, high level administrators frequently stand by their efforts; a direct conflict with staff who have, at times, not been forthcoming.

We sent the above screenshots of the agenda to Principal Lockwood, asking for an explanation.

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Earlier update today:

UPDATE: FATE OF DIVERSITY COMMITTEE UNCERTAIN AFTER ROCKWOOD PARENT SMEARED NEW MINORITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

Babler Elementary principal Andrea Lockwood told us she doesn't know if the committee will be used again next year. 

She says the official name of the committee is "Diverse Together." She described it as a way for students to describe, on morning announcements, how they celebrate different holidays, such as Ramadan, Passover and Easter.

Parents and staff members head up the committee.

She did not directly answer the question, "Is Jennifer Biermann on the committee?" but, when asked if Biermann would stay on the committee for the rest of this school year, the answer was also, "I don't know." 

Other parents, either on the committee or aware of the committee, say Biermann is a member.

Biermann's name was splashed across social media Tuesday and a topic on morning radio after she commented on a Facebook post. 

Biermann's words implicated new Rockwood school board member Izzy Imig in the brutal Al Qaeda kidnap, rape, and, torture of her own sister in Iraq 18 years ago. The comment can be seen in the original post on this, below. It was in response to Imig telling the story during the school board race.

Principal Lockwood emphasized that she has no jurisdiction over what adults say to each other on their private social media accounts.

We saw emails that parents sent to Lockwood complaining about Biermann's comment. Those emails included that they did not trust her to be on a diversity committee after attacking Imig, who is a minority.

BLOCKBUSTER DISCOVERY

A records request shows Biermann is the one who sent the email referenced in Time magazine as proof that parents were making death threats against Rockwood administrators. To date, those claims have not been substantiated, but have persisted for months. 

Find out more about how Biermann's actions led to a barrage of negative news coverage of the district...here.

The original post, from April 12th, is below:

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ROCKWOOD PARENT ACTING AS "DIVERSITY" LIAISON FOR MINORITIES SMEARS NEW MINORITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER; MAKES NEWS ON MORNING RADIO

This is part of the smear; posted days ago, but talked about this morning:

"Listening to this interview where she showed she was completely comfortable sacrificing her younger sister to Al Qaeda, since it meant saving herself, told me enough about the person she is." 

The Al Qaeda kidnapping it references is part of the survival story told by newly elected Rockwood school board member Izzy Imig. The comment is not an accurate account of what happened, according to Imig.

People from all around the Rockwood area saw the quote in the social media comment below, on West County Matters; a group on Facebook.

An even bigger audience is hearing about it this morning, as Imig's husband, Jason Imig was interviewed on morning radio. He discussed the personal effect on the Imig family and said the attacks on social medial have become more personal and painful.

Imig's sister was brutalized by Al Qaeda until she could be rescued.

You can hear Jason Imig's  interview here. 

"Jennifer Marie" wrote the comment. She is Rockwood parent Jennifer Biermann. Biermann goes by "Jennifer Marie" on social media sites such as Facebook. She doesn't use her full name or show her face in her profile picture; presumably, to be freer with what she posts on social media. 

But, multiple sources who know her have confirmed the account is hers, and confirmed that she is on the Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee at Babler Elementary. Her connection to DEI is what makes this comment particularly shocking. 

Imig is a citizen here, but was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq.

Biermann's full comment:

The reply to "Jennifer Marie," from Sloan Sheffield Cowell, goes further to disparage Imig. 

Imig saw it all, but, comments were turned off, so, she made a post of her own on Facebook, to respond.

Imig's response on social media.

Imig, speaking to voters on Feb 18, 2022

While campaigning in the recent school board race, Imig told her story to potential voters at meet and greets, as well as during radio interviews. 

Our U.S. Army recruited Imig in Iraq, to help them as a translator during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Imig has explained in various formats over the last couple of months that Al Qaeda kidnapped her sister when she ran an errand instead of Imig. 

Biermann did not support Izzy Imig in the board of education election last week. 

Imig was the top vote getter of the 5 candidates in the race, with more than 11,000 votes.

We emailed Babler's principal for a response, but have not yet received a reply.

This post has been edited to add the link to the interview with Jason Imig and to clarify the events occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as that the comment was seen on Facebook.