Peoria school board president ousted over scandal comments

Peoria Unified School District governing board president Heather Rooks was voted out Tuesday night in a special meeting over her comments about a teacher-student sex scandal.

Rooks was removed from her position as president in a 3-2 vote. She was replaced as president by Jeff Tobey, also in a 3-2 vote. Board Clerk Becky Proudfit said the move came after an ongoing pattern of behavior and a large request from the community.

Two board members including Proudfit requested the special meeting for the sole purpose of electing a new president. The move comes after Rooks spoke with Arizona's Family and other outlets about concerns regarding the Centennial High School case.

Two former teachers are accused of sexual misconduct with the same student at Centennial High School. Rooks said she criticized how district leaders handled the case and asked prosecutors to investigate possible violations of mandatory reporting laws.

It seems like retaliation to Rooks. She said it is shocking that she cannot have a voice anymore. To her it seems like a cover-up.

Rooks said she will fight for the kids. She said she will be their voice. If it takes removing her as president to get to the bottom of this she said she would gladly do it all over again.

The Peoria chapter of the Arizona Education Association created a petition to remove Rooks as president. They said she was circumventing the board and publicly disparaging Centennial administration through interviews with the media.

Rooks said she has no regret about speaking out. While she was removed as president she still is a member of the board.

The Board can remove Rooks as president with a majority vote. She cannot easily be kicked off the board altogether. A member may be removed by death a move out of district a resignation or be recalled through a process outlined on Maricopa County Education Service Agency's website.

Rooks said she will run for the governing board again once her current term is up in November. She said she will see what the governing board respects more. She said they are all citizens and freedom of speech or First Amendment.

Rooks said the governing board might be willing to retaliate against a parent in this district.

This is not the first time Rooks has been at the center of controversy. Rooks became the governing board president last year and then lost a lawsuit she filed against the district.

Rooks claimed her constitutional rights were violated when other board members asked her to stop reciting Bible verses during board meetings.

Rooks is currently campaigning for the state House of Representatives on a conservative platform. She said she believes the push to remove her as president is happening now because the district is trying to cover up potential wrongdoing.