Volusia County School Board chair steps down after controversial comments
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Jessie Thompson, chair of the Volusia County School Board, is stepping down from her leadership role after facing backlash for criticizing students in her district.
Thompson, who will remain on the board as a member, made controversial remarks during a panel at a Moms for Liberty summit in December. She said she "would not trust filling my tank of gas" with some of the students graduating from her district. She also made disparaging comments about fellow board members.
Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, who publicly called for Thompson to step down, expressed approval of her resignation.
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"It needed to happen," he said. "You can’t sit here and represent a board after you’ve been bashing that board and then coming after them and, more than anything, coming after the kids. It was very unprofessional and inappropriate."
Thompson later released a statement reaffirming her commitment to the education of all students.
"When I ran for school board, I promised to ensure every student receives an exceptional education," she wrote. During my tenure, I remain committed to building on this progress."
Volusia County Council members will meet next Tuesday to appoint a new board chair.
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The Source: This story was written based on information taken from Jessie Thompson, Moms for Liberty 2024 Summit, Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr., and the Volusia County Council.