Stacey Adair, a teacher from Colorado and recipient of the 2025 Teacher Freedom Summit's Teacher of the Year award, is facing scrutiny after an anonymous complaint alleged her "XX ≠ XY" chromosome t-shirt constituted anti-transgender messaging. The incident occurred at a professional development training event earlier this month.
Adair was called in a week after the event and given a questionnaire regarding the shirt. She was subsequently instructed not to wear clothing with controversial messaging in the future. Adair expressed fear for her job and concern about facing increased scrutiny.
Ryan Walters, CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, an organization that advocates for alternatives to teacher unions, views Adair's situation as emblematic of larger ideological power struggles in schools. "It’s not an isolated incident," Walters stated, adding that teachers like Adair, who align with parental preferences, are often treated poorly by school districts.
Adair stated that she frequently wears t-shirts with various messages to professional events, including one that read "Math facts" when she met with former Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. She noted that the school district has a policy against apparel that is political or disruptive to the educational environment.
However, Adair believes her shirt was neither overtly political nor disruptive, especially since no students were present at the training. "I just grab a shirt I feel like wearing that day," Adair said. "I just wear these shirts because they’re facts. I just feel like someone has to be stating the truth."
Adair suggested her reprimand might be linked to her previous activism against teacher union influence in her district. In 2021, she was involved in efforts that led to the school board not renewing the district's contract with the teachers union, which she argued had excessive control over district operations.
Adair reported receiving a veiled, threatening email to her district email account after speaking out against the union in 2021. District security was involved, and she was advised to file a police report. She stated, "You don’t mess around with the union. So, am I surprised? No. Yes, I'm afraid. I know this is the beginning of them coming after me."
While Adair does not have direct evidence linking the teachers unions to the anonymous complaint, Walters contends that such incidents reflect widespread pressure on teachers who challenge authority. He believes these cases contribute to the increasing prevalence of certain ideologies being promoted in schools, even in conservative areas.