Visalia Unified Trustee Christopher Pope resigned during Tuesday’s school board meeting after he made “negative sexual orientation based comments” this summer toward a Golden West High School teacher.
Originally, the board was going to censure Pope; however, he resigned prior to the board’s discussion. The board, in closed session, accepted his resignation 6-0.
“I genuinely hope that this is an opportunity for [Pope] to understand that what he did is wrong, what he said is hurtful and inappropriate, and the actions he took to defend himself at my expense were shameful,” said Ben Cummings, the teacher Pope’s comments were aimed at. “I don’t believe he is a bad person but I also think that you can’t double down on your bad behaviors without facing the consequences.”
During his resignation, Pope apologized to Cummings as he sat in the crowd. He said he wanted to extend an olive branch moving forward.
“I want to first thank my constituents for believing in me and electing me as your trustee for Area 6. It has been an honor. It is with sadness and a lot of prayer and soul searching that I submit my resignation,” Pope said. “I want to publicly apologize that I have hurt this individual. That is not my character. It is time for the board to return to the business, it is what’s best for our kids.”
Cummings said Pope’s resignation is a chance to bring more attention to students’ struggles districtwide.
“I am sad that this happened, but happy that Mr. Pope has made the decision to allow us to move forward without the distraction of this hanging over the board,” Cummings said. “However, I also think it is important for this story to be told because this is the starting point for us as a district to move forward and make the changes we need to make to support all of our students.”
Cummings approached the board in June, asking them to consider his proclamation recognizing Pride Month. Later that month, Cummings and Pope met for lunch to discuss the proclamation at Pope’s request.
“I met with a teacher to discuss his proposed proclamation for June to be gay pride month at Visalia Unified School District. I proposed that VUSD honor, celebrate and thank the staff, teachers and students that are in the LGBT community. Since that meeting, there has been tension in our community,” Pope said. “Basically, it’s ‘he said this, no, he said this.’ I’m the first to admit I’m not perfect and…there should have been a mediator at that meeting.”
Investigation findings show Pope made negative sexual orientation-based comments during a lunch meeting in June.
“Mr. Pope made comments about my sexuality that were humiliating, upsetting and frustrating,” Cummings said. “At one point, Mr. Pope slammed his hands down on the table and said, ‘don’t make me be homophobic, Ben.’… As many times as I tried to divert the conversation from sexual relations, Mr. Pope continually brought it up and made it clear it was something to be ashamed of.”
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The board has not considered adopting a Pride proclamation since Cummings presented a draft in early June. Board President Juan Guerrero told the Visalia Times-Delta the proclamation was absent from a late-June agenda because the district was working on the wording of the resolution.
He’s hoping something can be agreed upon soon. Following the announcement of Pope’s resignation, Guerrero spoke to the community.
“Mr. Pope’s behavior toward a district employee is inappropriate and outside the scope of his authority as an individual board member,” Guerrero said. “The board does not condone Mr. Pope‘s action.”
Cummings asked that a task force be formed to help VUSD and the board better understand the struggles the LGBTQ community faces. Trustee Jaqueline Gaebe made a motion to create a task force. Trustee Megan Casebeer Soleno agreed with Gaebe and asked that student voices be included on the task force.
Several people spoke on behalf of Pope, who was elected in 2020. He beat Lucia Vasquez by just eight votes.
Pope was born in Dinuba, grew up in Orosi, and graduated from Orosi High School, according to the district. Before joining the board, and teaching in Visalia, he managed the family business, Pope’s Propane Service.
The board will be tasked with replacing Pope. It’s the second time the board has been forced to fill an empty board seat this fall.
Guerrero confirmed the board will fill the new vacancy using a provisional appointment.
This is a developing story.
Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.
