The Oklahoma State Board of Education delayed the ongoing teaching license revocation hearing against a former Norman High School teacher who resigned after a parent complained that she violated sections of House Bill 1775.
Former Norman High School English teacher Summer Boismier resigned in August 2022 after a parent complained that she violated sections of House Bill 1775, which restricts Oklahoma public schools from teaching students that a person, because of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, either knowingly or unknowingly.
Boismier posted a QR code to the Brooklyn Library Books Unbanned, providing her classroom with free e-book access to various titles that are restricted across the country.
In June 2023, Boismier faced a revocation hearing of her teaching license where agents from the Oklahoma State Department of Education contended she should never teach in the state, however, the judge presiding over the hearing found the state failed to prove its case and recommended Boismier’s certification remain intact.
In January, the Oklahoma State Board of Education agreed to have a hearing to decide on the state’s revocation case against Boismier during its meeting on March 28, where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said he would encourage the board to revoke her license anyway.
The March meeting would have been nine months after the state first held a revocation hearing against Boismier.
Boismier’s attorney, Brady Henderson, told the Oklahoman in January he planned to file a separate legal challenge to her revocation if the state board goes through with it.
At the March 28 meeting, the Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously voted to delay any action against Boismier until the next board meeting on May 23. Cara Nicklas, attorney for the Oklahoma State Board of Education, recommended delaying action until the Department of Education could hire an attorney.
During the May 23 meeting, Nicklas proposed that the hearing be set for June 27, at the next board meeting. Nicklas also recommended that exceptions to the hearing officer's findings of facts and conclusions of law be filed on or before June 13.
Boismier and her attorney Henderson were not present at Thursday’s board meeting.
After the complaint was filed, Boismier asked about her status with Norman High School. Norman Public Schools told her she was on administrative leave and not allowed to come back to work.
Wes Moody, former Norman Public Schools executive director of communications and public relations, said that when a complaint is filed against a teacher, the teacher must leave the classroom while the complaint is investigated.
Walters asked the State Board of Education to revoke her teaching certificate in a statement released on Aug. 31, 2022.
“There is no place for a teacher with a liberal political agenda in the classroom,” Walters wrote in the statement. “Ms. Boismier's providing access to banned and pornographic material to students is unacceptable and we must ensure she doesn’t go to another district and do the same thing.”
Walters also said Boismier’s actions led to Boismier’s “subsequent firing,” however, she resigned after being placed on administrative leave.
Last year, Boismier sued Walters in Oklahoma City federal court for defamation, false representation, slander and libel against Walters for statements on his social media regarding the incident at Norman High.
According to a FOX 25 article, Walters claimed his statements were protected by the common law fair comment privilege, which allows the general public to publish their opinions without fear of a libel suit. However, on April 23, the judge ruled that fair comment privilege would not be applied and that Walters had not proved that his statements were based on true or privileged facts.
Currently, Boismier doesn’t live or work in Oklahoma. She accepted a job with the Brooklyn Public Library and moved to New York City.
The next Board of Education meeting will be on June 27 at 9 a.m.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Taylor Jones. Avery Avery copy edited this story.
