A school district in Illinois has come under fire after a disturbing revelation about faculty and staff expressing wishes for Charlie Kirk’s death. This was uncovered in the district’s 2026 Equity Framework Plan, which emphasizes hiring staff from diverse backgrounds and requires DEI training for both staff and students.
Defending Education released details from Oswego District 308’s equity plan through multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, shedding light on its annual DEI report and its future initiatives.
One of the FOIA requests revealed that the district’s middle schools divided students by race during a training session in 2025, all without informing parents.
During a session, the equity director highlighted the discrimination experienced due to skin color and noted that the next session would involve “people who identify as white.”
Erica Sange, the senior director of communications for Defending Education, commented that this separation could indicate “racial discrimination.”
“Labeling them as racial affinity groups is merely a euphemism for racism. These equity events that segregate students based on skin color are unacceptable and likely illegal,” she argued, adding that regardless of intent, race-based programs in schools are harmful and should be eliminated.
The equity report also suggested that high school departments could organize “content-specific/equity” trainings where students might engage in discussions about LGBTQ+ issues, microaggressions, and Ramadan.
After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a report indicated that Jadon A. Waller, the district’s director of equity and K-8 education, took to Facebook to label Kirk a “modern-day Klansman.”
“I see many Black individuals commenting on the deaths of modern-day Klansmen, and I find it confusing and disappointing,” he wrote. “Who are you trying to reassure? It makes me uneasy.”
Waller, who posted under the name Ashley Jadon, remains on the district’s payroll, as stated on the district website.
No response came from Waller regarding a comment request.
Looking ahead, the report outlines DEI training efforts in elementary and middle schools, with plans for a DEI design team to address gaps in student achievement and discipline.
The district’s “Measures of Success” framework requires teacher leaders and administrators to conduct at least two unique DEI trainings by the year’s end, results of which will appear in next year’s report.
They also aim to collaborate with nearby school districts and Waubonsie Community College for the upcoming DEI conference called ASCEND.
The district acknowledges the existence of racism in schools and pledges to combat injustices that result in racial inequality, striving for inclusiveness.
Moreover, there’s a strong emphasis on diverse hiring practices aimed at ensuring staff reflects the student population.
A job listing for a high school principal outlined that candidates should focus on equity and legitimacy throughout the district.
The DEI initiatives don’t end there. The district has proposed a $75,000 grant to partner with an outside organization for a recruitment and retention training program tailored to attract teachers who mirror the community’s racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity.
In a previous partnership from late 2023 to early 2024, taxpayer money was used for DEI materials, such as Pride parade stickers and entry fees for events.
Earlier training sessions asked participants to read “How Privileged Am I?” and rank themselves based on their privilege levels.
Instructions for these trainings indicated that groups should list privileges relevant to education settings, identifying how students and educators benefit based solely on their social identities.
Even though these sessions were conducted in Illinois, the organization implements similar training nationwide through partnerships with various education agencies.
The Oswego District 308 did not respond to requests for comments.
