White House Staffer Mary Wall to NSBA chief: 'we have your back'
500+ pages of emails and texts reveal a clear political operation
Thank you to Fox & Friends for having me on this morning. To prepare, I stayed up all night reading 500+ pages of emails and texts, so you wouldn’t have to do it.
I got the raw data, courtesy of the National School Board Association, as it tries to save its organization from the many state chapters jumping ship after the debacle of a letter sent in the fall of 2021 equating parent advocacy to “domestic terrorism.” Click the button to read the goods yourself. Go to the Exhibits. I’ve put the page number for important messages in the Exhibits in parentheses below.
The Sept. 28, 2021, letter from the National School Board Association to the President Joe Biden seeking a “threat assessment” on the safety of board members from — uh, hum, people — not parents, just people, as the architect of the letter, Chip Slaven claims, was a clear political operation from start to finish. He accused protestors of engaging in “domestic terrorism.” In emails, Slaven talked about “Proud Boys” showing up to school board meetings. Someone who engages in domestic terrorism is a domestic terrorists. And, protesting that his letter didn’t mention parents once, his examples sure did — and our school board meetings are filled with (drumroll) parents.
The work began in early September 2021, inspired in part to win “this fall’s elections,” according to one email, and Slaven coordinated early on with a top White House official, Mary Wall, a former New York and Boston public schools official who had served in top jobs in the Obama administration.
After the backlash to the letters, Wall wrote Slaven and reassured him that “we have your back.” That day, President Biden directly spoke to Viola Garcia, president of the NSBA. “Dr. Garcia was thrilled,” Slaven told Wall.
Here are five nuggets:
On Sept. 4, 2021, after speaking to an Ohio school board representative Charlie Wilson, interim executive director Chip Slaven had a staffer send instructions to Deborah Rigsby, the program director for the school board association’s lobbying and federal legislation work:
Write a letter for “either the Attorney General or the Director of the FBI, he is not sure yet.”
It went to President Biden after Slaven coordinated with White House staffers.
On Sept. 8, 2021, an Ohio school board representative raised the issue of board member safety — with a clear political and electoral objective! That day at, 1:16 PM, Charlie Wilson wrote to interim executive director Chip Slaven with the subject line: “Coordinated Attacks on Ohio School Boards.pdf.”
Wilson asked:
…is there anything NSBA can do to help school board members across the country who are being attacked and opposed by these groups during this fall’s elections?..I believe we must do something to oppose these folks taking control of school boards across the nation.
“During this fall’s elections…,” he wondered, could the school board association protect board members? Not forever. Or tomorrow. Or the next day. But “during this fall’s election.”
He had a political goal: “…we must do something to oppose these folks taking control of school boards across the nation.”
On Sept. 21, 2021, 10:10 PM (p. 182), Mary Wall at the White House wrote to Slaven and said she was coordinating with other White House staffers and Justice Department officials.
“…I’m meeting w colleagues from other WH offices and DOJ tomorrow morning to see if there might be any options we can pursue here…”
Sept. 27, 2021, NSBA planned to “blow out the media coverage,” said an association communications staffer.
In the midst of the backlash, guess who calls the NSBA president Viola Garcia? President Biden. On Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, 6:43 PM (p. 232), Wall wrote to Slaven to reassure him that “we have your back.”
From: Mary Wall, EOP.gov
To: Chip Slaven
Hi Chip —
I know I didn’t call on Tuesday, but I think Dr. Garcia got a call from someone way better than me. :)
Please know we have your back, and we’re exploring every avenue we can.
MW
5. On Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, Slaven told Wall that Garcia was “thrilled and had a wonderful conversation with the President. “
From Chip Slaven
To Mary Wall EOP/WHO
Dr. Garcia was thrilled and said she had a wonderful conversation with the President.
It would be great to talk with you. I’d like to talk strategy on how to turn the conversation more towards the real safety issue and away from the false narratives concerning parents who are peacefully stating their opinion.
Here is the timeline. I’ll keep adding to it.
March 2021
Biden Considering NYC Schools Official for Senior Role Focusing on Opening Schools Across U.S.
Mary Wall, the current chief of staff to the New York City Department of Education, is set to work with the president’s COVID-19 COVID Response Team on meeting the Biden's stated goal of returning students in grades K through 8 to full-time schooling by the end of his first 100 days
Mary Wall has been senior policy advisor at the White House since March 2021, according to her LinkedIn.
She was with the New York City Department of Education since September 2017. She was director of instructional strategy in Boston Public Schools from July 2016 through August 2017. She was senior policy advisor in the Obama administration’s U.S. Department of Education from November 2013 through August 2014. Before that, she was policy advisor on education at the Obama White House from June 2011 through November 2013.
May 7, 2021, 4:17 PM (p. 7-8)
NSBA leaders meet with Secretary Cardona. He requests follow-up to “discuss the reopening of schools strategy and next steps.”
Copied US DOE: Aaliyah Samuel, deputy assistant secretary, local, sate and national engagement; Anna Chavez; Kimberly Watkins-Foote; Nicholas Simmons; Larry Bowden; Serena Walker.
By the end of the year, Samuel had a new job running one of the country’s most lucrative “social and emotional learning” contractors, CASEL, much despised by many parents for its intrusive lesson plans and surveillance of children in K-12 education.
July 1, 2021 (p. 11)
Aaliyah Samuel: “We would like to engage in a conversation with you surrounding the Department’s proposed, “Return to School Roadmap”. Invites to July 7, 2021, Zoom with Sheila Nix, Nick Simmons, Rachel Thomas and Samuel.
July 20, 2021 (p. 14)
Samuel wants “5-10 mins” with Slaven to discuss “reopening schools.”
August 2021
Worthington, Ohio, school board member Sam Shim called adults at board meeting “white supremacists.”
Shim admitted to WSYX he posted on his Facebook page and then later deleted the words "White supremacists in the room, ugh" during Monday night's school board meeting.
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2021, 1:13 PM (p. 281)
From: Jane Mellow @NSBA.org — advocacy and public policy
To: Deborah Rigsby @NSBA.org — program director, lobbying and federal legislation
cc: Chip Slaven
Subject: Threats to school boards (also from Chip)
…he wants us (specifically he asked for you) to draft a letter for either the Attorney General or the Director of the FBI, he is not sure yet.
…he wants to ask for a threat assessment of the risk to school board members and public schools in the wake of some of the confrontational tactics we have seen across the country….He will be sending an example of a letter Charlie Wilson brought to his attention yesterday.
Sept. 8, 2021, 1:16 PM (p. 50)
From Charlie Wilson
To: Chip Slaven, others
Subject: Coordinated Attacks on Ohio School Boards.pdf
…is there anything NSBA can do to help school board members across the country who are being attacked and opposed by these groups during this fall’s elections?..I believe we must do something to oppose these folks taking control of school boards across the nation.
Sept. 8, 2021, 4:06 p.m. (p. 64)
From Charlie Wilson
To Chip Slaven and others
Subject: FW: Letter in the Mail
…I wanted to make you aware of a threatening letter to our board president.
Attached letter from Trent Bowers, Worthington Schools Superintendent, Ohio. “…Dublin received the same letter…You may want to make a report to law enforcement.”
Sept. 8, 2021, 5:47 p.m. (p. 64)
From Chip Slaven
To Charlie Wilson and others
Subject: RE: Letter in the Mail
…I have been exploring several options to try and address these issues including contacting the Department of Justice and/or Department of Homeland Security and asking for a threat assessment…
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, 9:56 PM (p. 90)
From Mary Wall, EOP/WHO Senior Policy Advisor
To: Chip Slaven
…I think often about the tough position that school boards are in at a time like now. We’d love to do anything we can to support members making tough calls on behalf of kids.
[Chip attended call on vaccinations with White House.]
Sept. 10, 2021, p. 72
From Jinghong Cai, senior research analyst, Center for Public Education, NSBA
To Jane Mellow and Deborah Rigsby
Subject: school board meeting disruption cases
Summary:
28 cases occurred in 16 states
In 3 cases, protestors are against CRT
In 21 cases, protestors are against Mask Mandates
The disruptive behaviors included…bad manners
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, 9 AM (p. 90)
From Chip
To Mary Wall
…I appreciate your concern for local school board members…I worry over the many threats school board members are receiving….I would love to have a conversation with you…
Sept. 14, 2021
From Chip Slaven, summary of “OESAED meeting.”
…I had discussed the issue with Marie Wall, special assistant to the President, in a one-on-one call earlier that day. I had requested the meeting. Throughout my presentation I took note that several executive directors appeared displeased..
Sept. 17, 2021, 12:51 PM (Exhibit p. 175)
The review did find, however, that Slaven was in close touch with the White House in the weeks leading up to his controversial request. Mary Wall, a senior White House adviser, asked Slaven for an advance copy of the letter. Slaven responded with a summary that included the group’s desire for possible law enforcement action against threats and acts of violence under the Patriot Act “in regards to domestic terrorism,” among several other federal laws. The report does not include any response from Wall to that email.
— A White House spokesperson said the report confirms that “the administration did not request this letter,” adding that it routinely communicates with organizations “of all kinds and political persuasions” and requests advance copies of letters being sent to the president. The spokesperson added that Wall “did not interact with the Department of Justice about this issue.” The DOJ declined to comment.
Sept. 21, 2021, 9:37 AM (Exhibit p. 183)
Mary C. Well EOP/WHO
Subject: examples
“Hi Chip! Hope you’re well. When we spoke last week I think you said you could send through to me some of the more egregious examples of your members who have faced safety issues and/or reached out to law enforcement without adequate response. Do you have any examples on hand? Would be helpful as we brainstorm solutions.”
Sept. 21, 2021, 9:27 PM (p. 181)
From Slaven to Mary Wall:
“There are also reports of Proud Boys showing up at various school meetings…Qanon followers are now considering running for school board…extremists are driving much of the debate…School board elections are normally nonpartisan and locally driven. This seems like a test drive for issues during the upcoming national campaigns. I would not be surprised if there are intentional social media campaigns from foreign powers or other bad operators also popping up like what happened during the 2016 election.”
Sept. 21, 2021, 10:10 PM (p. 182)
From Mary Wall at WH to Slaven:
“…I’m meeting w colleagues from other WH offices and DOJ tomorrow morning to see if there might be any options we can pursue here…”
Sept. 26, 2021, 7:29 PM (p. 190)
From Slaven to Viola Garcia, Frank, Kristi and Charlie.
“Deborah Rigsby worked on it and did a great job.”
Sept. 27, 2021, 1:20 PM (Exhibits p. 187)
From Jason Amos, director of communications at NSBA.
To: Slaven, Mellow etc.
Wait to release on Wednesday “If we really want to blow out the media coverage.”
Sept. 28, 2021, 12:13 PM (Exhibits p. 194)
From: Jason Amos @NSBA
To Andrew Kreighbaum
Subject: “Story Heads Up: Letter Asking Biden for Federal Intervention to Stop Threats Against Public Schoo Leaders.”
“…tomorrow morning, we plan to release a letter to the White House…Is this something that you would be interested in covering? If so, I’m happy to provide you with an embargoed copy of the letter.” 20+ incidents
“What do you think?”
Sept. 28, 2021, 12:15 PM (Exhibits p. 194)
From: Andrew Kreighbaum BloombergIndustry.com, education and labor reporter, Bloomberg Government.
To: Jason Amos @NSBA
“Was just about to check in — would definitely be interested in taking a look at the letter. What would be the embargo time?”
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, 12:54 PM (Exhibits p. 197)
From: Jason Amos
To: Jennifer Calfas
Sept. 29, 2021
From Chip
To Jane Mellow, Deborah Rigsby, Jason Amos
I plan to send to Julie Chavez Rodriguez and copy White House staffers Mary Wall, Katharine Pantangco, and Nexley Silva and Aaliyah Samuel and Kimberly Foote with the Department of Education.
Sept. 29, 2021, 3 PM
From: Chip
To: Julie Rodriguez EOP/WHO
CC: Katherine Pantangco EOP/WHO, Mary Wall EOP/WHO, Aaliyah Samuel ED.gov, Kimberly Foote ED.gov,
Sept. 29, 2021, 8:18 PM
Chip Slaven to Board of Directors: Attached letter. “It was sent to President Biden concerning threats to public schools and school board members….talks over the last several weeks with White House staff… embargoed until tomorrow morning when it will be shared publicly.”
Sept. 29, 2021, 9:44 PM (p. 104)
From Mary Wall
To Chip Slaven
CC: Julie Rodriguez EOP/WHO
“Thank you for sending in advance…As the President has stated, we stand with educators who are doing right by kids — and we know they/you all need to be protected now more than ever.”
Oct. 1, 2021, 2:55 AM Manifesto
“I’m a Mom. Not a Domestic Terrorist.”
Oct. 1, 2021, 2:01 PM (p. 486)
From Beverly Slough to Chip Slaven and Board of Directors: “I must object to the sending of this letter in the strongest way.”
Oct. 1, 2021, 9:34 AM
From: Renee Joe
To: NSBA Staff
Subject: White House Letter and Responses
“Yesterday, we started our media push and it received great interest, including being mentioned during the White House press briefing yesterday. Chip conducted several rounds of media interviews, including the Associated Press, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio…”
“…a spotlight on NSBA…you NOT ENGAGE with angry callers.”
Oct. 1, 2021, 11:32 AM (p. 217)
From: Julia Treanor, DHS, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, School Safety Task Force
To: Adam Lustig, NSBA
Connect “to learn more about the letter, and gain a bit of background on NSBA’s requests…”
Oct. 1, 2021, 2:08 PM (Appendix p. 486)
Ronnie Hopkins to Beverly Slough
Oct. 2, 2021, 9:04 AM (p. 498)
Viola Garcia: “Sometimes I wonder about Pam’s frame of mind.” Pam Doyle.
Oct. 2, 2021, 7:38 AM CDT (Appendix p. 209)
From Janine Bay Teske
“The letter is laced with bad words, calling parents terrorists….We need to be adults in the room…This letter is divisive….We should not be using our schools as a political battleground
Oct. 2, 2021, 12:25 PM (Appendix p. 207)
From: Slaven
“…NSBA is not calling parents terrorists or limiting free speech is an outrageous lack of moral courage…”
The words student or students are used 19 times.
“Terrorism is referred to twice.”
Parent or parents “used 0 times.” Claim of parents as terrorists “is not only ridiculous…”
“..Proud Boys…have been showing up at board meetings..”
Randi Weingarten of AFT called me yesterday to commend us for being so bold and promised to work with us to try and cool temperatures.
“I was made aware the WH staff met with the DOJ a week ago Wednesday. I gave the WH bullets…”
“The fact that there is pushback on this shows the power the letter carried…dark money funders nervous.”
Oct. 4, 2021, 3:19 PM (p. 220)
From: Anthony Coley, Director, Office of Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Attorney General.
Subject: Hello from Main Justice
“…Wondering if you’d have a couple minutes to chat this afternoon.”
Official DOJ profile:
Anthony Coley was sworn-in as head of the Justice Department’s Office of Public Affairs on Feb. 3, 2021. In this role, he provides communications counsel to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, and serves as the Department’s chief spokesman. Coley was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Treasury Department’s Office of Public Affairs from July 2011 – January 2015.
Previously, he served as communications director and chief spokesman for U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He has also held top communications posts for U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine, and U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
Oct. 4, 2021, 4:59 PM (p. 224) (not sure about time zone)
From: Alvia Roberts @USDOJ.gov @OTAliviaPaden. Competed for Miss D.C. 2021.
To: Chip Slaven
CC: Anthony Coley @USDOJ.gov (PAO)
Subject: Follow-Up: DOJ Memo Regarding Threats Against School Personnel
"Hi Chip,”
“…I have attached the memo from the Attorney General that will be made public later today…we thank you for raising this concern with us…”
Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, 4:40 PM (p. 224)
(not sure time zone but this email came after previous one)
From Chip Slaven:
“This is a significant development.”
Oct. 4, 2021, 8:10 PM (p. 221)
From: EDStakeholder@ed.gov
Subject: “Justice Department Addresses Violent Threats Against School Officials and Teachers”
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, 8:02 AM (p. 275)
From Kristi Swett
To Marnie
…Chip told the officers he was writing a letter to provide information to the White House, from a request by Secretary Cordona….
Oct. 7, 2021 (p. 226)
Letter from Grassley, etc. Judiciary Committee to Garland.
Oct. 7, 2021, 1:34 PM (p. 514)
Garcia:
“FYI, from Pam…We are…getting hammered…Please stop the interviews…”
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, 6:43 PM (p. 232)
From: Mary Wall, EOP.gov
To Chip Slaven
Hi Chip —
I know I didn’t call on Tuesday, but I think Dr. Garcia got a call from someone way better than me. :)
Please know we have your back, and we’re exploring every avenue we can.
MW
Oct. 7, 2021, 5:04 PM (p. 232)
(after earlier email)
From Chip Slaven
To Mary Wall EOP/WHO
Dr. Garcia was thrilled and said she had a wonderful conversation with the President.
It would be great to talk with you. I’d like to talk strategy on how to turn the conversation more towards the real safety issue and away from the false narratives concerning parents who are peacefully stating their opinion.
Oct. 10, 2021, 8:49 AM (p. 494)
Pam Doyle to Beverly Slough, cc: Ronnie Hopkins: “He keeps challenging people that oppose him. I had one exec to say they thought it was a coup between Chip and the white house in positioning Chip for a place in the Biden square. Not surprised at anything coming from that man or the officers…firing Chip would be a first step in the right direction.”
Oct. 15, 2021, 2-2:30 PM (p. 506)
DHS virtual K-12 School Safety and Security meeting.
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, 7:55 PM (p. 520)
Group: Frank, Viola, Kristi and Charlie
Someone: “This will now be leaked.”
CW: “Chip is right. He should have not been blind sided.”
Undated
Viola Garcia, Frank Henderson, Kristi Swett, Charlie Wilson
Frank Henderson shares photo of a mom with a shirt, “I’m a mom not a “Domestic Terrorist.”
Henderson: “My local board!”
Garcia: “Getting traction!!”
Someone: “It’s getting traction because we are silent. It’s an orchestrated effort by.a Koch Brothers funded group. MSNBC covered it tonight. We had a significant win two weeks ago with the DOJ action but have said nothing since.”
Oct. 21, 2021, 8:10 PM
Chip Slaven text to Pete Hoepner:
“I’m just stunned! I have a 20 plus set up slides going through the letter and I was denied the right to present it to the board and then this happens. This is just awful.”
Hoepner: “…folks picking words…”
Oct. 22, 2021 (p. 244)
From: NSBA Board of Directors
To: NSBA Members
“…we regreat and apologize for the letter.”
Oct. 23, 2021, 8:06 PM (Exhibits p. 239)
From Chip Slaven
To Celinda Lake @LakeResearch.com. Lake “is one of the Democratic Party’s leading political strategists. She was one of two lead pollsters for the Biden campaign in 2020 and continues to serve as a pollster to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), other national party committees, and dozens of Democratic incumbents and challengers at all levels of the electoral process.”
Subject: Re: DOJ: “Concerned parents = domestic terrorists?”
Our board decided last night to apologize over my strong objections and it has only made things worse which is what I predicted. The story is all over conservative news and we look terrible.
It is very frustrating how this effort has been distorted. This does not bode well for public schools."
Oct. 28, 2021, 3:03 PM (p. 253)
From: Renee Joe, Interim Chief Transformation Officer
To: NSBA Staff
…the voice of parent should and must continue to be heard….
…NSBA has apologized…
Nov. 12, 2022 (p. 257)
Jim Jordan letter to Chip Slaven about investigation “troubling” DOJ and White House attempts to “target concerned parents.”
Jan. 7, 2022
Chip Slaven text to Pete Hoepner:
“…the discussion was not about an apology but an another statement. They cut me out of the discussion.
May 29, 2022
Anthony Coley @AnthonyColeyDOJ
“At the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, the U.S. Department of Justice will conduct a Critical Incident Review of the law enforcement response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. Read more about it here.”
Thank you to everyone for your support. Stay vigilant.
###
Momma Bears seem to be the only ones getting anything done to fight back & win against this corrupt, filth ridden, lying administration, democratic party & media. I read through the emails, thank you for posting them. Thank you for your hard work. Endurance is needed because these scumbags will stop at nothing.
Asra, thank you for all your hard work. You are appreciated and seen by parents - especially the ones who are overwhelmed and distressed by what is happening.