A middle school teacher in Meridian, ID, reported being forced to remove signs reading “Everyone is welcome here” and “Everyone in this room is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued, and equal” from her classroom display.
West Ada School District officials believed sixth-grade world civilization teacher Sarah Inama’s signs violated a policy mandating neutral classroom content and respect for others’ right to express differing opinions, according to KTVB Channel 7.
“They told me that they were in violation of district policy because, in today’s political environment, they’re considered a personal opinion,” Inama said.
Initially, she removed the signs but later changed her mind, believing the message reflects a fundamental value of public education. Inama said her signs are consistent with district posters encouraging students to “welcome others and embrace diversity.”
“I just feel like as a teacher… I would do anything to protect my students. I love all of them unconditionally,” Inama told KTVB.
West Ada officials have given Inama until the end of the school year to remove the signs, per KTVB.
The district’s directives come after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025. Shortly after, he signed multiple executive orders aimed at banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across various sectors, including public education.
The U.S. Department of Education has since launched a portal called EndDEI.Ed.Gov, which allows parents, students, teachers, and community members to report incidents of “illegal discriminatory practices” at government-funded K-12 schools, AFROTECH™ noted.
KTVB reported that in a memo sent on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the district clarified its position by using a sports analogy, comparing itself to “a well-coached sports team.”
“Much like a well-coached sports team, success in education comes from following a structured game plan,” the memo read. “Every player knows that while they bring their own strengths and personality to the game, they must operate within the rules to maintain fairness and consistency.”
The memo asserted that if one player chose to wear a different uniform, use a different-sized ball, or ignore the rules, the game would “lose its structure, creating confusion and imbalance.”
“Similarly, West Ada Board Policy serves as our rulebook, ensuring that all visual aids and displays in classrooms align with district guidelines and contribute to a focused, distraction-free learning space,” it added, KTVB reported.
