In a video taken on Monday, November 4, by an 11-year-old student at Lied STEM Academy, an English Language Arts teacher was filmed delivering an anti-Trump monologue to her sixth-grade class. The video, recorded on a district-issued laptop, shows teacher Courtney Lichtenwalner discussing her political opinions in a class meant for language arts, engaging students in a debate on policies and news sources.
Lichtenwalner used the class period to encourage her students to fact-check former President Donald Trump’s economic policies, particularly “trickle-down” tax policies, using Google and the White House website. She reportedly warned students about Fox News, calling it a biased source.
When a student mentioned her mother as a source, Lichtenwalner responded, “I would never lie to you. I would never not give you facts,” which the student’s parents felt implicitly questioned the mother’s credibility.
The video shows Lichtenwalner making several inflammatory claims, including an assertion that Trump suggested violence toward former Rep. Liz Cheney and accusations that he holds extreme views on abortion. She also criticized Trump’s economic policies, favorably comparing them to those of former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden and omitting references to Biden administration policies impacting inflation and the national debt.
Parent Marty Enz, whose daughter filmed the video, was disturbed by Lichtenwalner’s behavior. Enz said he called the school on Tuesday, November 5. to report the incident and left a message with a counselor but did not receive a return call.
In a statement to The Nevada Globe, Enz expressed concern over the teacher’s focus on politics, saying, “Why is a teacher so concerned with an 11-year-old’s politics and beliefs? They’re 6th graders. They should be learning how to read and write properly, not be berated and taunted by adults.”
Enz praised his daughter for recognizing the inappropriateness of the conversation, adding, “We are fortunate that CCSD gave my daughter a laptop with a camera so we could all see teachers trying to program our children instead of teach them.”
The Clark County School District has not responded to the incident.
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