EXCLUSIVE FROM FOX: An Illinois school district has come under fire after it was revealed that some staff expressed extreme sentiments against Charlie Kirk. The district’s ambitious 2026 equity framework outlines goals to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce and mandates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for both faculty and students.
Defending Education obtained Oswego District 308’s equity roadmap via several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. These documents unveiled an annual DEI report summary along with the district’s strategic plan for 2026.
One of the FOIA requests highlighted a concerning practice at a district middle school, where students were grouped by racial background during equity training sessions for staff in 2025, without parental consent.
The equity director noted post-session that she addressed “the challenges of being discriminated against based on color” and mentioned her upcoming session would focus on “those who identify as White.”
The district’s equity blueprint has sparked debate after FOIA requests exposed plans for DEI-focused hiring, compulsory training, and racially-segregated student sessions conducted without informing parents. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Erika Sanzi, the senior director of communications at Defending Education, expressed concern to Fox News Digital, suggesting that the district’s decision to separate students by race might be viewed as “segregation.”
“Calling it a racial affinity group is just a nicer way of saying racial segregation—these equity assemblies that divide up students by their skin color are without justification, not to mention illegal,” Sanzi explained. “Regardless of the intention, the ideology behind race-based programs and activities in schools is destructive and needs to be rooted out.”
The equity report also showed that high school departments held “specific content/equity” trainings, where students could engage in opportunities like a lunch and learn about “LGBTQ+, Migroaggressions, Ramadan.”
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a report from the Kendall County Times revealed that Jadon A. Waller, the district’s superintendent of equity and engagement of grades K-8, posted to Facebook referring to Kirk as a “modern day Klans man.”
“I’m seeing a lot of Black folks on here interjecting themselves into the death of a modern day Klans man… and I have to say I’m confused and disappointed. Who are you trying to make comfortable? Cause it’s making me uncomfortable.”
Waller posted under the name Ashley Jadon on Facebook, according to the report.
Newly uncovered records show an Illinois district implementing race-focused equity trainings, diversity hiring priorities and DEI conferences, while a senior administrator drew outrage for social media posts about Charlie Kirk. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Per the school district’s website, Waller is still employed at Oswego District 308.
Waller did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
As for the 2026 outlook, the report showed plans for DEI training in elementary and middle schools and a DEI Design Team to “analyze and address inequities within student academic achievement” and student discipline.
In an “indicators of success” rubric where results will be reflected in the following year’s report, the district calls for elementary and junior high school’s teacher leaders and administrators to “facilitate at least two of their own DEI trainings by the end of the year.”
The Illinois school district also plans to “partner with surrounding districts and Waubonsee Community College to host our 1st DEI Conference called ASCEND!”
One equity statement says the district “will acknowledge the existence of racism in our schools and community,” and “we will address injustices that lead to racial inequities and work to educate and change behaviors” to promote inclusivity.
In addition to pushing DEI in the classroom, the recruitment and retention portion of the plan pushes the district to “prioritize” diverse hires.
Oswego District 308 faces backlash after reports that staff celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death and documents exposed equity initiatives, including racial affinity groups and expanded DEI programming. (Getty Images/iStock)
“We will prioritize the recruitment, retention, and advancement of administrators and staff with diverse backgrounds to ensure our team of educators reflects our student body,” the framework reads.
A job posting for a high school principal in the school district obtained by Defending Education says “the right candidate” should be “prioritizing equity and rightful presence… across the district.”
Oswego District 308’s commitment to DEI doesn’t stop there. The district proposed a $75,000 grant to the Board of Education to establish a partnership with an organization for a residency program that “recruits and retains new teachers who reflect the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of the communities we serve.”
From October 2023 to March 2024, during a previous partnership between the district and a separate organization, the school district spent taxpayer dollars on DEI supplies, including pride parade stickers and a pride parade fee to participate.
The school district spent funds to participate in a pride parade along with stickers and materials. (Joshua Stanyer/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The previous partnership held training sessions for district personnel and students where participants were asked to read “How Privileged Am I” and rank themselves on how privileged they are.
“Generate a privilege list related to P-12 settings for the student and adult educator group assigned to your team by listing ways students and adults may experience systems of advantages or rights that are available to them solely based on their social identities,” the training instructions read.
While these training sessions were held in the Illinois school district, the organization carries out similar exercises through partnerships with state and local educational agencies across the country.
Oswego District 308 did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
