Education

Threats to local school officials have nearly tripled, research finds : NPR

Published

8 hours ago

July 11, 2025

When the school board in Florida’s Broward County defied Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school mask mandates during the pandemic, some parents sent vitriolic emails and made veiled threats.

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When Sarah Leonardi filed to run for Florida’s Broward County School Board in 2019, she had no idea what she was getting into.

Leonardi won and took office in late 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. It was tumultuous. Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to withhold school funding after the board defied his masking ban. Angry over mask mandates, some parents sent vitriolic emails and made veiled threats.

But as COVID rates began to ebb, new flashpoints emerged. In the fall of 2021, Leonardi chaperoned an elementary school field trip to a local bar and grill that happened to be gay-owned. Some conservative media ran with the story. New threats poured in.

“Some of them were like ‘You can’t outrun my Glock 9mm gun’ [and] ‘Take a dirt nap,’ ” Leonardi recalled in an interview with NPR. “One was like, ‘Sell that b**** as a sex slave to ISIS,’ which was oddly specific.”

Leonardi says she still receives threats when conservative media occasionally republishes the school field trip story.

“I’ll get an email or a phone call about it, just telling me what a horrific person I am,” she says.

Harassment and threats up 170%

Leonardi’s experience captures how threats against local school officials across the U.S. have shifted and grown, according to researchers at Princeton University. They conducted what they say is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind in the country. Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative interviewed Leonardi along with 38 other school board officials. They also surveyed more than 820 school board officials with a group called CivicPulse. Using open-source material, investigators documented threats and harassment against school officials from November 2022 through April 2023, and the same period two years later. They found such incidents rose by 170%.

Bridging Divides says some of the local cases corresponded with national attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as well as on LGBTQ+ policies. Roudabeh Kishi, the project’s chief research officer, says the targets held a variety of political views.

“This isn’t really like a partisan issue,” she says. “We’re seeing really similar reports of experiences (on) all sides of the political spectrum.”

In addition to Leonardi, NPR interviewed six other current or former school board officials who said they had been targets of harassment or threats. They said the anger and distrust that developed during the pandemic helped fuel and shape future disputes over cultural issues.

“The pandemic started this conversation about what are individual freedoms,” says Alexandria Ayala, a former school board member in Florida’s Palm Beach County. “What can a government tell me to do or not do?”

A second “Civil War” in Gettysburg

Al Moyer, who’s now in his ninth year on the Gettysburg Area School Board in Pennsylvania, says battles over masking frayed relationships in the district. Then, in 2023, some people in the community became uncomfortable with a tennis coach who was transitioning to female and had used the girls locker room.

Moyer said one resident called a Republican board member who opposed renewing the coach’s contract a “Nazi” to her face. He says his wife lost friends over the controversy.

“Those two situations really caused a kind of second Civil War battle in Gettysburg,” Moyer says. “It was pretty ugly.”

School board members have to navigate fights over genuine issues, but increasingly they have to grapple with fake ones as well. Russell Devorsky, who recently retired after 14 years on a school board in suburban Waco, Texas, says false stories on social media sow confusion and fuel harassment. “I am consistently and constantly harangued with individuals saying, ‘Well, kids are dressing up like cats, and they have litter boxes in bathrooms,’ ” says Devorsky. “Even though there’s never been a school district that had that situation, people believe it.”

“Like pushing a wet rope up a hill”

Even ordinary issues — such as the construction of a new band hall — can be targets of misinformation, Devorksy says. He says there were false claims on social media that the hall wouldn’t be ready on time and that students wouldn’t have instruments. Trying to set people straight who consider comments on Facebook community pages authoritative is exhausting, Devorsky says. “It’s kind of like pushing a wet rope up a hill,” he says.

The Princeton researchers worry that harassment could drive some school board members to leave public service — which they are monitoring — or avoid engaging on controversial topics. But Sarah Leonardi, the one who took the students to the gay-owned restaurant, says she isn’t quitting because she feels like she’s still making a difference.

“Ultimately, I decided to move forward and run again,” Leonardi says. “That is just a sacrifice — or a vulnerability — I’m willing to accept for now.”

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Education

How AI Saved My GPA

Published

1 hour ago

July 11, 2025

The Editors

How AI Saved My GPA

The story of a struggling student, a midnight discovery, and the tool that changed everything.

I Was Failing.

Not metaphorically—actually failing.

Two midterms, three overdue assignments, and an essay on “Global Economic Collapse” that hadn’t moved past the title.

It wasn’t that I didn’t care—I did. I wanted to do better. But between Zoom fatigue, part-time shifts, and the endless ping of social media distractions, my brain checked out.

I was drowning in information, paralyzed by pressure.

And then, one late night, I met my secret study partner—an AI assistant.

The Accidental Discovery

It started, of course, with a TikTok.

One of those fast-talking hoodie-wearing types saying:

“If you’re still writing your own essays, you’re doing it wrong.”

I rolled my eyes. Classic clickbait.

But curiosity won—and I watched.

He typed into a clean little chatbox:

“Explain quantum physics to a high school student.”

Seconds later, a structured, clear, casual explanation popped up.

Smarter than anything I’d seen in a textbook.

I blinked. Replayed. Watched again.

This wasn’t cheating. This was genius.

From Chaos to Clarity

That same night, I gave it a try.

I opened the tab and typed:

“Summarize the main causes of the 2008 financial crisis.”

Boom.

“The 2008 financial crisis was caused by a mix of irresponsible lending practices, risky mortgage-backed securities, and a lack of regulation in the banking system…”

No fluff. No filler. Just facts—fast, clear, and organized.

In under five seconds, I had the perfect starting point for my overdue economics paper.

More Than Just Homework Help

What shocked me wasn’t just the speed.

It was how the AI actually helped me learn.

Whenever I didn’t understand something—like “compound interest” or “inflation”—I’d ask it to explain like I was five. Or in meme form. Or with emojis.

And it worked. Every time.

For the first time in months, studying became… fun.

(I know. Weird.)

The Turning Point

Two weeks later, I turned in my econ essay.

I’d written every word—but used AI to structure my arguments, clean up my grammar, and double-check my citations.

Grade: A-

My professor’s comment?

“Clear argument, excellent organization, strong grasp of the topic.”

I laughed. Two weeks ago, I didn’t even know what a mortgage-backed security was.

Keeping It Ethical

Look—I get the concern.

People hear “AI does your homework” and immediately think cheating.

But here’s the truth:

AI didn’t write my work.

It helped me understand how to write it better.

It didn’t think for me.

It helped me think more clearly.

Still, I set myself some boundaries:

No copy-pasting full answers. Ever.

Use it as a guide, not a ghostwriter.

Always fact-check. Even AI gets things wrong.

Used responsibly, it wasn’t a crutch.

It was a compass.

My New Study Routine

Now, my process is simple:

Pick a topic.

Ask AI to explain it.

Break down the complex stuff.

Organize the ideas.

Write my version—with confidence.

No more blank-page anxiety.

No more endless Googling.

Just fast support, smart insights, and space for my brain to breathe.

The Bigger Picture

I realized something else too.

This isn’t just about me. It’s the future of learning.

AI is our generation’s calculator moment.

Remember when teachers feared calculators would “ruin” math?

They didn’t. They revolutionized it.

Same with AI.

It can level the playing field—for students without tutors, for second-language learners, for anyone just trying to survive in an overwhelming system.

AI isn’t a threat to education.

It’s a tool—and if we use it right, it’s a game-changer.

The Takeaway

So yeah, maybe it sounds dramatic to say:

“AI saved my GPA.”

But it did.

Not by doing my work—

But by showing me that I could do it.

That I was capable, smart, and just needed help sorting through the noise.

Sometimes, that’s all we need.

💡 Final Thought:

The future isn’t about memorizing facts.

It’s about using the tools at our fingertips to turn information into real understanding.

And with AI as our study partner, maybe… we’re just getting started.

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Education

The Picture Show : NPR

Published

2 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Lee V. Gaines

Jamilah McBryde works up a sweat to cut weight in preparation for the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Wrestling National Championship, hosted in Wichita, Kan., in March.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

Jamilah, Zaynah and Latifah McBryde never expected to become college athletes, much less change the rules of American women’s wrestling.

The sisters are devout Muslims who were homeschooled and grew up wrestling one another in Buffalo, N.Y.

“We always said we would never be able to wrestle in college,” said Jamilah, 22.

Coaches recognized their talent when they were teenagers, but they couldn’t wrestle with boys, nor could they wear the required wrestling singlet — due to their faith.

Eventually their passion for the sport – and their perseverance – led to rule changes allowing Muslim women to compete in full-body uniforms at collegiate and national levels.

The sisters based their initial uniforms off those developed for Iranian women wrestlers: a long-sleeved shirt with another shirt over it, and leggings underneath pants, along with a head covering.

Zaynah McBryde (right) battles with Samantha Barragan of Texas Wesleyan University at the 2025 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

Associate head wrestling coach Christian Flavin (center) and head coach Ashley Flavin (right) watch intently as Zaynah McBryde competes.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

“It started off kind of rough,” Zaynah, 19, said. “The more we trained and, like, started to try to compete, it was like, these hijabs aren’t staying on.”

Trainers and coaches offered helpful suggestions; the sisters now use velcro to keep their shirts tucked into their pants, and they tape their hijabs onto their heads.

“It’s like the people that we’ve met along the way, our coaches and athletic trainers have really helped develop the uniform,” Jamilah said.

These modest uniforms honor their faith, but they also sparked controversy. In 2022, when Latifah, 20, qualified to represent the U.S. at the Pan American Championships for Wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), which governs the sport at the international level, denied her request to wear the modified uniform. She ultimately wasn’t able to compete.

But college coaches were excited to recruit them. They recognized the sisters’ potential, though several coaches struggled when asked how they would handle referees who objected to the uniforms. The response from coaches at Life University in Marietta, Ga., stood out.

“The coaches at Life were the first ones that said, ‘If they’re on our team, they’re part of the family. We’re getting the rule changed,’ ” said Zaynah.

Life University associate head wrestling coach Christian Flavin, who is married to head coach Ashley Flavin, does an emotional check-in with his team on the eve of the 2025 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship.

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

Jamilah McBryde holds her coach’s son while teammate Megan Stottsberry and sister Latifah watch.

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

“We really wanted to open that college door for them and give them the opportunity to keep competing at a high level,” said Ashley Flavin, the head coach of women’s wrestling at Life University.

Thanks to Flavin and other wrestling coaches’ efforts, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), one of the organizations that governs wrestling at American colleges, approved the modified uniforms in the summer of 2022.

That fall, the sisters enrolled at Life University, where they found a welcoming team culture.

Latifah McBryde leaves a final shake-out training session with teammates ahead of the 2025 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Zaynah McBryde breaks her Ramadan fast with a traditional Iftar meal of dates. All three McBryde sisters maintained their Ramadan fast in the lead up to the tournament.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

“Girls on the team have the prayer app downloaded on their phones to tell us when prayer time is,” Jamilah said. “While there is a lot of negativity and people who don’t support us wrestling this way, there are a lot who do.”

Jamilah won her first national title last year, qualifying her for U.S. Olympic team trials — but that dream was shattered after UWW ruled that their modest uniforms created an unfair advantage.

The sisters and their coaches strongly disagree, arguing the uniforms are more likely a disadvantage. Flavin said the extra clothing means the sisters get hotter during competition. The sisters also said some competitors have tried to tear their hijabs off to gain an advantage.

But Jamilah said they’ve also had more positive experiences.

“There are people that we’ve wrestled against and our hijab will come off in the match, and they’ll stop wrestling and cover us and wait for our coach to come over and bring tape,” she explained.

Jamilah McBryde takes a breath during training ahead of the championship, which fell during Ramadan.

Geoff Stellfox for NPR

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Mustafa and Christine McBryde, the sisters’ parents, take Zaynah’s championship bracket home after the tournament.

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

After the McBryde sisters advocated for change, USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport of wrestling in the U.S., changed its rules this year to allow modified uniforms. “I was just shocked,” Jamilah said. “Like, it actually happened. We did it.”

This year’s NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship fell in March, during Ramadan, which meant the sisters trained and competed while fasting. Despite that added challenge, Zaynah and Latifah won the championship for their weight classes, and Jamilah finished second to a former Olympian.

Zaynah McBryde receives her plaque after winning the 2025 championship for her weight class.

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

Though Olympic dreams remain out of reach due to international rules, the sisters are hopeful that will eventually change.

Zaynah McBryde (center) and sister Jamilah (right) celebrate with teammates after finding out that USA wrestling would let them compete in trials.

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Geoff Stellfox for NPR

“I’m just kind of content with the idea now that, like, OK, even if I don’t ever step on an Olympic stage … I’ve had a lasting impact on wrestling,” Latifah said. “Even if I’ve had a positive effect on one other Muslim girl to let her know that she’s capable of doing things and that she can be strong and modest and feminine — all at the same time — then I’ve done my job.”

All three sisters plan to stay involved in the sport after college; Zaynah and Latifah are interested in coaching. Jamilah doesn’t think she’ll follow that path, but she says wrestling isn’t something she can fully step away from, given her family’s love of the sport.

“I think it’s definitely going to be a part of our lives forever.”

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