Oklahoma drag queen elementary school principal resigns amid outrage, official says

An Oklahoma elementary school principal with a drag queen persona who had previously faced child pornography charges has resigned.

Shane Murnan, who performed drag shows under the alias “Shantel Mandalay,” submitted his letter of resignation as principal of John Glenn Elementary School to the Western Heights School District on Thursday, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters announced.

“The drag queen is in Western Heights. I have demanded it from day one,” Walters said in a video. aware on Friday X. “This is not what parents want for their children.”

“Our students will be protected from predatory behavior and I have been very clear that I will not allow Oklahoma schools to become a training ground for drag queen propaganda.”

Murnan had served as elementary school principal in Oklahoma City since June 2023, Fox 25 reported.

Popular social media account Libs of TikTok initially exposed Murnan’s alleged drag queen activities in August 2023.

A video of Murnan fully clothed of him reading children’s books during a story hour at the Metropolitan Library System on June 15, 2021, surfaced and was shared after his hiring, the outlet reported.

Library officials said a background search of Murnan’s past was conducted before the event.

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Social media posts then emerged alleging that Murnan had previously faced child pornography charges.

Shortly after his hiring, the Western Heights School District announced that it was “aware of prior charges that were dismissed more than 20 years ago.”

Although the district did not explain the nature of Murnan’s charges, users on social media began sharing local reports about an individual with the same name accused of viewing “pornographic images of children under the age of 18” while teaching fifth grade at another Oklahoma Elementary School. school, according to Fox 25.

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He resigned from his position before returning to practice.

Shortly after his hiring, the Western Heights School District announced that it was “aware of prior charges that were dismissed more than 20 years ago.”

Walters had called for Murnan’s resignation since September 2023, but the district defended itself, endorsing the principal’s “outstanding” reputation.

Following the backlash over her past, Murnan broke her silence in an interview with NonDoc last September, saying she was receiving “a lot of hate, considering I’ve been the same person for 26 years doing the same thing.”

“It’s not that I’m silent about it,” he told the outlet. “I’m very open with who I am. “I don’t hide who I am.”

Murnan had also once applied to become a minister of the church in 2014, according to the Christian Post.

As the public became aware of Murnan’s past and the school’s administration was opting to keep him as principal, the district began receiving threats, prompting them to hire additional security and direct Murnan to work off-site. most days.

Murnan read children’s books during a story hour at the Metropolitan Library System on June 15, 2021, dressed as a woman. Metropolitan Library System/Facebook

He was later placed on paid administrative leave, which the outlet said cost the district an additional $65,000.

Walters called Murnan’s resignation “a necessary step to protect children in Oklahoma” in his announcement Thursday.

Walters said he launched an investigation into the district’s hiring practices.

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Source: vtt.edu.vn

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