Overview:
Idaho teacher Sarah Inama resigns after being ordered to remove inclusive “Everyone is welcome here” posters.
Sarah Inama, a sixth-grade history teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School in Meridian, Idaho, has submitted her resignation following a dispute with the West Ada School District over inclusive signage in her classroom. Inama, a veteran educator, chose to step down rather than comply with a district directive to remove a poster that read “Everyone is welcome here” and featured diverse hands and affirming words such as “welcome,” “important,” “valued,” and “equal.”
Image courtesy of Sarah Inama
The conflict marks the ending of a months-long standoff between Inama and district officials, who gave her an ultimatum: replace the posters with something “neutral” or face disciplinary consequences.
“I cannot align myself nor be complicit with the exclusionary views and decisions of the administration,” she wrote in her resignation letter. “It is extremely disturbing and embarrassing to see a district prioritize appeasing individuals with racist perspectives over celebrating the diversity and beauty of all our students.”
She pointed out an apparent logical fallacy in the district’s position: “There are only two opinions on this sign: Everyone is welcome here or not everyone is welcome here… the only other view of this is racist.”
Inama also noted that the posters had previously contributed to her being rated as “distinguished” in official evaluations. She cited her inclusive classroom environment and her efforts to create a space defined by warmth, fairness, and respect for all student backgrounds.
According to additional reporting on March 3, Inama requested a letter of recommendation from her principal, Monty Hyde, and he agreed to write one. At the time, Inama said she was working on an application for a teaching position in the Boise School District.
“It is deeply troubling that the people running this district and school have allowed a welcoming and inclusive message for my students to be considered controversial, political, and, worst of all, an opinion,” Inama wrote. “It is also no secret that there is an issue of discriminatory and hurtful behavior and comments amongst students in this school district. They deserve to have their concerns taken seriously and addressed.”
Sarah Inama’s departure underscores growing K-16 school tensions with the executive orders from the Trump administration focused on dismantling any initiatives around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
