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A Lewisville middle school art teacher is on leave as the district looks into parent concerns about a yearbook cover that includes phrases such as Black Lives Matter, I cant breathe and others related to major events that occurred in the past year.

Kayla Mick, who teaches at Downing Middle School in Flower Mound, approved the artwork featured on the back of the yearbook, which was decided on by eighth grade students. Mick, who is on paid administrative leave during the districts review, could not be reached for comment.

The district is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the design of the yearbook before taking further action. LISD spokeswoman Amanda Brim said it would be inaccurate to say Mick was placed on leave as a result of parent complaints, but she declined to give further details, citing the ongoing review.

It is our best hope that all of our teachers connect with students in a way that makes them feel safe and creates a sense of belonging in every classroom, Brim said. Having said that, we expect staff to remain neutral while engaging students in these conversations, in accordance with district policy.

The yearbook was published this month, as the country approached a year since the death of George Floyd.

The back of the book features the phrase spoken by Floyd, a Black man as a Minneapolis police officer held his knee against his neck just before his death which raised concerns from parents, Brim said.

The schools principal gave families the opportunity to request and receive an alternate cover for the yearbook.

Stephanie Bell, a former Flower Mound mayoral candidate, started a petition asking the district not to infringe on the students freedom of speech and to protect the teacher. It currently has more than 3,400 signatures.

The artwork chosen represents major events in our community and around the world including the documentation of racial inequality protests, COVID-19, the 2020 presidential election and support of basic human rights, Bell said. Censorship in journalism simply because you disagree with the content is not only unacceptable, its dangerous.

She added that the Flower Mound community politicized two phrases connected to Floyd in an unfortunate manner and that they were the main points in the yearbooks artwork that caused controversy among parents.

Instead of censoring the students, the school and community should encourage the children to have challenging conversations, Bell said.

This is such a time in a childs development where they are learning to be their own person and when were muzzling them from thought, she said.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from The Beck Group, Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, The Meadows Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University and Todd A. Williams Family Foundation. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Labs journalism.

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Lewisville teacher on leave as parents upset over Black Lives Matter, I cant breathe yearbook back - The Dallas Morning News