On Thursday, parents concerned with the direction public education has taken in recent years celebrated the election of their long-time advocate, Heather Rooks, as president of the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board.
Rooks, who has become a champion for parental rights, had solid support from newly elected Board members Janelle Bowles and Jeff Tobey.
Past President of the Board, Becky Proudfit, nominated herself for the job, but once it was clear she had little support, she voted for Rooks.
Board member Melissa Ewing was the lone dissenting vote.
Tobey and Bowles were swept into office in November 2024 with the support of Rooks and her vast network of parent activists.
Rooks, a Christian mother of four, who first emerged on the education scene during the draconian COVID lockdowns, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and harassment since before taking office in 2023.
In fact, it was her decision to express her personal faith during one of her first meetings in 2023, that made her the subject of increasing attacks from radical anti-faith activists and teachers’ union members.
During each Peoria School Board meeting, the agenda includes a brief “Board comments” period where individual board members may offer remarks of their own choosing. Since the beginning of her public service on the board, Rooks has opened her comments by quoting a short scripture from the Bible.
The Peoria School Board subsequently received letters from anti-religious organizations, like the Freedom From Religion Foundation, demanding it stop Rooks from reading scripture. In August, the school board president at the time, David Sandoval, instructed Rooks to stop quoting scripture during meeting time specifically set aside for board members to comment on any topic they choose.
Rooks was forced to file a federal lawsuit against the Peoria Unified School District with the help of First Liberty Institute attorneys.
Rooks’ attorneys argued that her “recitation of a Bible passage, without comment, elaboration, or proselytization, during her Board comments doesn’t violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The Establishment Clause provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. Rooks’ practice accords with over 200 years of this Nation’s historical practices and understandings. (“The opening of sessions of legislative and other deliberative public bodies with prayer is deeply embedded in the history and tradition of this country.”). Public officials from Presidents Washington and Lincoln up through President Biden routinely recited scriptures while performing their official duties.”
Rooks is only looking forward now, preparing to keep the promises she made to voters.
“I am greatly honored, humbled to have been elected as the new President of the Peoria School Board,” Rooks told the Arizona Daily Independent in an email. “I will not forget the commitment I made to the students, parents, staff and community when I was sworn in two years ago. I will continue to stand up for the issues that I promised to the people who elected me. Thank you Peoria Governing Board Members for entrusting me in this position. Together we can lead with excellence!”
