Visalia Unified trustee resigns after making homophobic comments to teacher
Visalia Unified Trustee Christopher Pope resigned during Tuesday's school board meeting after he made "negative sexual orientation-based comments" this summer toward a Golden West High School teacher.
Originally, the board was going to censure Pope; however, he resigned prior to the board’s discussion. The board, in closed session, accepted his resignation 6-0.
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"I genuinely hope that this is an opportunity for [Pope] to understand that what he did is wrong, what he said is hurtful and inappropriate, and the actions he took to defend himself at my expense were shameful," said Ben Cummings, the teacher Pope's comments were aimed at. "I don't believe he is a bad person, but I also think that you can't double down on your bad behaviors without facing the consequences."
During his resignation, Pope apologized to Cummings as he sat in the crowd. He said he wanted to extend an olive branch moving forward.
"I want to first thank my constituents for believing in me and electing me as your trustee for Area 6. It has been an honor. It is with sadness and a lot of prayer and soul searching that I submit my resignation," Pope said. "I want to publicly apologize that I have hurt this individual. That is not my character. It is time for the board to return to the business; it is what’s best for our kids."
Cummings said Pope's resignation is a chance to bring more attention to students' struggles districtwide.
"I am sad that this happened, but happy that Mr. Pope has made the decision to allow us to move forward without the distraction of this hanging over the board," Cummings said. "However, I also think it is important for this story to be told because this is the starting point for us as a district to move forward and make the changes we need to make to support all of our students."
Cummings approached the board in June, asking them to consider his proclamation recognizing Pride Month. Later that month, Cummings and Pope met for lunch to discuss the proclamation at Pope’s request.
"I met with a teacher to discuss his proposed proclamation for June to be gay pride month at Visalia Unified School District. I proposed that VUSD honor, celebrate and thank the staff, teachers and students that are in the LGBT community. Since that meeting, there has been tension in our community," Pope said. "Basically, it’s 'he said this, no, he said this.' I’m the first to admit I’m not perfect and...there should have been a mediator at that meeting."
Pope's remarks about Pride Month, LGBTQ+
Investigation findings show Pope made negative sexual orientation-based comments during a lunch meeting in June.
"Mr. Pope made comments about my sexuality that were humiliating, upsetting and frustrating," Cummings said. "At one point, Mr. Pope slammed his hands down on the table and said, ‘Don’t make me be homophobic, Ben.'... As many times as I tried to divert the conversation from sexual relations, Mr. Pope continually brought it up and made it clear it was something to be ashamed of."
The investigation found that when Pope thought of "pride" he thought of "parades, naked people, sex, and men in G-strings." He said when he thought of "pride" he thought of people saying "Look at me. I’m gay. Be proud of me."
Pope said using the word "pride" would be "building a wall" and "almost demanding respect" and asked Cummings if "we are going to have a straight pride month?"
Pope also made negative comments about Cummings' sexual orientation, asking him "why the board should be proud or concerned with what [he] did in the bedroom, or whom they had sex with."
Pope also asked Cumings "why the board should give special attention to them and other gay teachers," and referred to his sexuality as a choice.
Visalia Unified opened an investigation after former Superintendent Tamara Ravalín received an email from Cummings alleging Pope made comments that were "deeply offensive, upsetting and harmful" during their meeting. Leslie Ellis of Ellis Investigations led the process.
During the investigation, Pope acknowledged making some comments contained in the teacher's complaint but said he did not recall making others.
More: Trustee investigated after potentially 'harmful' remarks to Visalia teacher
Looking ahead
The board has not considered adopting a Pride proclamation since Cummings presented a draft in early June. Board President Juan Guerrero told the Visalia Times-Delta the proclamation was absent from a late-June agenda because the district was working on the wording of the resolution.
He's hoping something can be agreed upon soon. Following the announcement of Pope's resignation, Guerrero spoke to the community.
"Mr. Pope’s behavior toward a district employee is inappropriate and outside the scope of his authority as an individual board member," Guerrero said. "The board does not condone Mr. Pope‘s action."
Cummings asked that a task force be formed to help VUSD and the board better understand the struggles the LGBTQ community faces. Trustee Jaqueline Gaebe made a motion to create a task force. Trustee Megan Casebeer Soleno agreed with Gaebe and asked that student voices be included on the task force.
Spokesperson Kim Batty provided a statement from the district and, in part, it reads:
Mr. Pope’s resignation follows an investigation of a complaint received by the district from a district employee against Mr. Pope. The district retained an outside, neutral investigator... (she completed) the investigation and submitted her investigative findings to the district, which concluded Mr. Pope made negative sexual orientation-based comments to the employee. Consistent with board policy, the governing board reviewed the findings, confirmed the district’s investigation was adequate...The district has made continuous efforts to build a school community focused on compassionate and kind learning. This has included many trainings for its staff to ensure practices, policies and procedures are inclusive of all students, staff and families...Moving forward, the district will continue to explore all avenues to ensure all of our students, staff, and community members feel welcomed and respected. This will include Board training on these matters, so all members of the board are trained and equipped to fulfill the District’s values.
Several people spoke on behalf of Pope, who was elected in 2020. He beat Lucia Vasquez by just eight votes.
Pope was born in Dinuba, grew up in Orosi and graduated from Orosi High School, according to the district. Before joining the board and teaching in Visalia, he managed the family business, Pope’s Propane Service.
The board will be tasked with replacing Pope. It's the second time the board has been forced to fill an empty board seat this fall.
Guerrero confirmed the board will fill the new vacancy using a provisional appointment as they did last week when they appointed Catalina Blair to fill the seat of John Crabtree when he left.
Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: After derogatory remarks to gay teacher, Visalia school board member resigns
