An Iowa school district chose to start the school year without the new band teacher instead of allowing a trans educator to take on the role he was offered, following protests from parents.
By rejecting a fully qualified trans band teacher days before the school year began, Fremont-Mills Community School District chose prejudice over the education of its own students. Ace Rios met every professional standard, earned stellar recommendations, and had already set up his classroom when board members Eli Forney, Wes Hill, and Shannon Smith caved to anti-trans outrage. Leaving over 400 middle and high schoolers without music instruction just to appease public bigotry is an embarrassing failure of administrative responsibility. In bowing to hate, the district abandoned integrity, exposed taxpayers to serious federal legal liability, and proved that local prejudice ranks higher than quality education.
2026 cultivated bigotry, and discrimination on full display. Exactly what generations have worked to change. Yes, we need change.
Equality doesn’t mean we are all the same, it means we all get treated the same. We all get to play on the same fields, cook in the same kitchens, and sit in the same dining rooms.
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote."
I hope they vote the three idiots off their school board and make sure they keep them from rising in state politics.
“Obviously, the issue is with you guys hiring a transgender [sic].”
“I am opposed to my grandchildren being subjected to that lifestyle”
I hope the sources of these quotes are named in a single local publication to allow for convenient exclusion from local social events involving children. I believe they shouldn't be exposed to radical Christianist "values" any more than to Islamic extremism.
I personally would like to see a local registry of radical Christianists available online so people knew whose children weren't safe to play with because their Christianist parents might be indoctrinating them with weird stuff about other people's genitalia.
Like, do radical Christianists think trans people TALK about stuff like that with little KIDS?! Do THEY talk about it with little kids? What's WRONG with these people?
I wish the parents had explained to us how they concluded that a trans teacher would have taught music differently. I can't help feeling that the open bigotry we are seeing is the direct result of who was put in the White House. His evil seems to pervade everywhere and to poison everything and everyone it touches. I truly wish I was confident that 2028 would be the last of him we will see. I fear that it is going to take many years to finally erase the stain that he (and his sycophants) have smeared on our once great country.
Great I am sure the kids will do better with theur schiol budget going in a lawsuit va a oerfectly competent band teacher. Great work school board. Really repping for the kids there.
Sue, sue, sue. Under state law since federal is useless. This is blatant discrimination and he might win. Its important that we fight back against this crap. It could be worth it and if he starts a go fund me for legal, I will donate what I can. Absolute crock. If anyone knows if he dis, let us know. -- Jessica
The Fremont-Mills Community School District went through its normal hiring process and selected a qualified band teacher who met all the necessary requirements. But apparently, qualifications weren't enough for some parents simply because the teacher is transgender.
And we should not forget that Gov. Kim Reynolds removed a barrier of protection for transgender Iowans, helping create an environment where discrimination like this can happen with fewer protections in place.
Instead of judging Teacher Rios on his experience, abilities, character, and qualifications—or even taking the time to speak with him—these parents showed up at a school board meeting and raised hell simply because he is transgender.
What is especially disturbing is that the pressure apparently worked. Board member Wyant stood up for Rios and pointed out the very qualities that made him a good choice for the position. Unfortunately, the other three members—Forney, Hill, and Smith—caved to the pressure.
This isn't about protecting children. It's about discrimination. A teacher should be judged by whether they can educate, inspire, and support their students—not by whether some parents approve of their gender identity.
When a school board allows a qualified teacher to be pushed aside because of prejudice, it isn't standing up for students. It's teaching them that discrimination wins when enough people make enough noise.
I hope this issue continues, with Rios considering legal action against the district and the three board members who voted against him. This type of discrimination must stop, and we must fight back every time it happens.
This School District should be made an example of and would hope that other parents with more sense come out an support Rios
The fear and vitriol is because the regular day to day association between eager and passionate music students matched with and equally eager and passionate music teacher - making beautiful music - performing together- sharing joy together- will illuminate the sick transphobia of all the parents and grandparents who are steeped in these hateful beliefs AND who are doing everything they can to transmit their hate to their children
The entirely wrong message to send to your children. Way to deny a quality education by being close minded and bigoted. All he wanted to do was teach children the joy of music. How infuriating and wrong!
Didn't we used to live in a country where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were "unalienable" (original spelling) rights. This man just wants to enrich the lives of others. That is a "lifestyle" I would be proud of. Something to be praised. I am so glad I live in a welcoming community in Illinois. I joined the local women's guild. I am treated just like any other woman. They use my name and she/her pronouns. It's not even a struggle for the other ladies.
"Now, Rios told a reporter, he is consulting legal counsel to sue the district for discrimination." <-- More power to him.
I hope to hear of effective pushback from parents who aren't child abusing bigots.
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote.", and the situation needs far more of it! Change the membership of the board!
Thank you Baum.
*him
This is heartbreaking 💔
I spell that "h" word as infuriating.
I left the district a 1 star review:
By rejecting a fully qualified trans band teacher days before the school year began, Fremont-Mills Community School District chose prejudice over the education of its own students. Ace Rios met every professional standard, earned stellar recommendations, and had already set up his classroom when board members Eli Forney, Wes Hill, and Shannon Smith caved to anti-trans outrage. Leaving over 400 middle and high schoolers without music instruction just to appease public bigotry is an embarrassing failure of administrative responsibility. In bowing to hate, the district abandoned integrity, exposed taxpayers to serious federal legal liability, and proved that local prejudice ranks higher than quality education.
https://share.google/Gqb73h848zssagaqP
2026 cultivated bigotry, and discrimination on full display. Exactly what generations have worked to change. Yes, we need change.
Equality doesn’t mean we are all the same, it means we all get treated the same. We all get to play on the same fields, cook in the same kitchens, and sit in the same dining rooms.
Yes we need change.
So the kids get screwed over due to bigotry and bullshit. I hope some lucky school hires Ace.
If there is a Go fund me for Ace please share it! This is completely outrageous!
Exactly! Some help to tide him over with the sudden loss of a promised income.
Indeed!
“Rios, a recent graduate of the music education program at the University of Nebraska, sat there in the room, listening to all of it.”
Talk about bravery.
Yes, I can't imagine 😢
That's horrific.
Get a lawyer even if there's not much hope
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote."
I hope they vote the three idiots off their school board and make sure they keep them from rising in state politics.
“Obviously, the issue is with you guys hiring a transgender [sic].”
“I am opposed to my grandchildren being subjected to that lifestyle”
I hope the sources of these quotes are named in a single local publication to allow for convenient exclusion from local social events involving children. I believe they shouldn't be exposed to radical Christianist "values" any more than to Islamic extremism.
I personally would like to see a local registry of radical Christianists available online so people knew whose children weren't safe to play with because their Christianist parents might be indoctrinating them with weird stuff about other people's genitalia.
Like, do radical Christianists think trans people TALK about stuff like that with little KIDS?! Do THEY talk about it with little kids? What's WRONG with these people?
I wish the parents had explained to us how they concluded that a trans teacher would have taught music differently. I can't help feeling that the open bigotry we are seeing is the direct result of who was put in the White House. His evil seems to pervade everywhere and to poison everything and everyone it touches. I truly wish I was confident that 2028 would be the last of him we will see. I fear that it is going to take many years to finally erase the stain that he (and his sycophants) have smeared on our once great country.
Great I am sure the kids will do better with theur schiol budget going in a lawsuit va a oerfectly competent band teacher. Great work school board. Really repping for the kids there.
Sue, sue, sue. Under state law since federal is useless. This is blatant discrimination and he might win. Its important that we fight back against this crap. It could be worth it and if he starts a go fund me for legal, I will donate what I can. Absolute crock. If anyone knows if he dis, let us know. -- Jessica
This is covered in the article
The Fremont-Mills Community School District went through its normal hiring process and selected a qualified band teacher who met all the necessary requirements. But apparently, qualifications weren't enough for some parents simply because the teacher is transgender.
And we should not forget that Gov. Kim Reynolds removed a barrier of protection for transgender Iowans, helping create an environment where discrimination like this can happen with fewer protections in place.
Instead of judging Teacher Rios on his experience, abilities, character, and qualifications—or even taking the time to speak with him—these parents showed up at a school board meeting and raised hell simply because he is transgender.
What is especially disturbing is that the pressure apparently worked. Board member Wyant stood up for Rios and pointed out the very qualities that made him a good choice for the position. Unfortunately, the other three members—Forney, Hill, and Smith—caved to the pressure.
This isn't about protecting children. It's about discrimination. A teacher should be judged by whether they can educate, inspire, and support their students—not by whether some parents approve of their gender identity.
When a school board allows a qualified teacher to be pushed aside because of prejudice, it isn't standing up for students. It's teaching them that discrimination wins when enough people make enough noise.
I hope this issue continues, with Rios considering legal action against the district and the three board members who voted against him. This type of discrimination must stop, and we must fight back every time it happens.
This School District should be made an example of and would hope that other parents with more sense come out an support Rios
The fear and vitriol is because the regular day to day association between eager and passionate music students matched with and equally eager and passionate music teacher - making beautiful music - performing together- sharing joy together- will illuminate the sick transphobia of all the parents and grandparents who are steeped in these hateful beliefs AND who are doing everything they can to transmit their hate to their children
The entirely wrong message to send to your children. Way to deny a quality education by being close minded and bigoted. All he wanted to do was teach children the joy of music. How infuriating and wrong!
Didn't we used to live in a country where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were "unalienable" (original spelling) rights. This man just wants to enrich the lives of others. That is a "lifestyle" I would be proud of. Something to be praised. I am so glad I live in a welcoming community in Illinois. I joined the local women's guild. I am treated just like any other woman. They use my name and she/her pronouns. It's not even a struggle for the other ladies.
Oh, god’s love is just so… horrible.
There's no greater hate than "christian love."
:-( Sad loss for band teacher; loss for students; lack of facts and knowledge; people either ignorant or listening to the fabricated fake news.