Texas Republican Representative Wesley Hunt was involved with a well-known K-12 school as a board member, where he made diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) a central part of its policies and curriculum.
From 2018 to 2021, Hunt, a vocal critic of DEI, sat on the board of St. John’s School in Houston. During his tenure, the school adopted a strategic plan that emphasized community and inclusion, along with initiatives like “banned book week,” showcasing titles that addressed issues such as racial discrimination and gender ideology.
In 2018, the board unanimously approved a “Community and Inclusion Statement,” which committed to incorporating cultural understanding and diversity into the entire K-12 curriculum. Meanwhile, Hunt, who graduated from this prestigious private school, was part of a task force aimed at overseeing the implementation of the DEI strategies. A significant objective of the plan was to create a more diverse staff by targeting underrepresented groups and integrating diversity-focused questions into the hiring process.
The plan also aimed to broaden social-emotional learning programs, and it included terms like “cultural competency” and “graduates of color.” At the same time, the school was working on updating its middle school civics and English curriculum to emphasize anti-racism and the relevance of diverse literature. In 2020, they organized forums addressing topics like the impact of saying “All Lives Matter,” the distinctions between non-racists and anti-racists, and systematic racism, with nearly 100 faculty members participating.
Hunt, reflecting on his upbringing, mentioned that he grew up in a time focused on standards rather than DEI initiatives. His family has a long history of service, and he noted that they never wanted to stand out based on skin color, instead desiring to meet established standards.
Both Hunt’s office and St. John’s School did not respond to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
In September 2018, St. John’s celebrated Banned Books Week, which reportedly featured discussions on topics related to gender identity and LGBTQ issues, according to The Washington Post.
From 2019 to 2020, the suggested reading list for faculty included works like “Blindspot,” “Born a Crime,” and “White Fragility,” all of which heavily focused on race and sometimes positioned white individuals in a negative light. Meanwhile, the school highlighted the diversity of its student body and faculty in reports claiming success in its DEI initiatives.
As of 2020, various affinity groups were established at the school, including those for faculty of color and LGBTQ faculty. Congressman Hunt has criticized DEI policies, describing them as discriminatory and suggesting a shift back to a merit-based approach. In 2024, the University of Texas has even called for ending its DEI department, linking such initiatives to increased anti-Semitism and attacks on First Amendment rights.
Hunt is currently running in a competitive primary against Republican Senator John Cornyn, with the race already heating up as Cornyn’s campaign has accused his opponent Ken Paxton of backing state funding for leftist nonprofit organizations that advocate for immigration reform and LGBTQ rights.
