If you think the fights between parents and school officials have calmed down since the pandemic, think again.
A case out of California is lighting up the parental rights debate all over again – and it should have folks in Nevada paying attention.
Natalie Rupic is a mom in the San Dieguito Union High School District.
She did what most parents would do if they thought their child was being treated unfairly by the school system: she spoke up.
She sent emails. She asked for meetings. She advocated for her kid.
WOW. Natalle Rajic, a brave California parent, BLASTED the San Dieguito Union High School District after Richard Whitney, a superior court judge, labeled her a “domestic terrorist” for speaking up for her child’s rights.
She then EXPOSED the judge for running an undisclosed… pic.twitter.com/yRK4baE0uI
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 11, 2025
But instead of listening, Superior Court Judge Richard Whitney reportedly labeled her a “domestic terrorist.”
Yes, a parent who asked too many questions about her child’s education was hit with the same kind of language we use for violent extremists.
That’s not just offensive – it’s dangerous.
Once you start throwing around a term like that, you’re not just disagreeing with someone. You’re trying to shut them down completely.
Instead of backing off, Rupic dug deeper.
She began looking into Judge Whitney and claims she found he was connected to a nonprofit group tied to teachers’ unions and lobbyists. Those ties, she says, were never disclosed.
Why does that matter?
Because if a judge is ruling on a case involving schools, and that judge has ties – especially financial ones – to a group that benefits from a certain outcome, that’s a potential conflict of interest.
Judges and public officials are supposed to avoid even the appearance of bias.
In California, just like in Nevada, officials have to file financial disclosures and step aside from any matter where they might benefit personally.
Failing to do so can erode public trust fast.
This isn’t just a California problem.
Here in Nevada, parents have been pushing back on school boards in Clark, Washoe, and rural districts over everything from spending and test scores to curriculum transparency.
And yes, union influence plays a huge role here too.
Nevada’s largest teachers’ union, the Nevada State Education Association, is one of the most powerful political players in the state.
When unions and their political allies run the table on school governance, parents can end up feeling shut out.
If a Nevada judge or school board member had undisclosed ties to groups pushing certain policies, you can bet parents here would want to know about it.
This isn’t the first time parents have been painted as the “enemy” for speaking out.
In 2021, the National School Boards Association sent a letter to the Biden administration suggesting that some heated school board meetings might be akin to “domestic terrorism.”
The backlash was so strong that the group later apologized, but the damage was done.
Across the country, moms and dads suddenly found themselves treated like potential threats for simply challenging school officials.
Rupic’s case is about more than one California school district.
It’s about whether parents have the right to speak up – even loudly – without being smeared.
It’s about whether judges and school officials can be trusted to act without hidden influences.
She’s now calling for full financial disclosure from school board members, so the public can see who’s backing them and where their loyalties might lie.
That’s the kind of transparency that should be common sense in every state.
Parents are not the enemy. They’re the customers of the public education system – and the people with the most skin in the game when it comes to their kids’ future.
Labeling them “domestic terrorists” isn’t just wrong. It’s a warning sign that some in power want parents to sit down and shut up.
Nevada parents, pay attention. What’s happening in California could happen here.
And the best defense is to stay informed, stay vocal, and demand transparency from everyone in charge – from the classroom to the courthouse.
Because when the people running our schools stop listening to parents, it’s not just bad policy. It’s a betrayal of the very idea that schools exist to serve students and families, not special interests.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
