A Texas Panhandle teacher who gained attention as the 2015 National Teacher of the Year has joined the chorus of those calling for a rejection of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president, reports The Amarillo Globe-News.Shanna Peeples, a former teacher at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, signed a letter along with many other teachers, including fellow “Teachers of the Year” from states like New York, Arkansas, Georgia, Utah, and North Carolina. The letter reads, in part:
“As teachers, we strongly oppose Donald Trump’s candidacy for president. Our students and our country deserve better. In our two-party electoral system, that means we must support Hillary Clinton. . . . We believe she will uphold the American values of civility, equality and dignity for all. Those values speak to our better angels and give hope to each new generation, including the youngest citizens who walk through our classroom doors each day.”
Peeples admitted to breaking with a common expectation that educators remain politically neutral. But she said this year was different, and it was her responsibility to use her platform to protect students.