The Birth of Library Exposed: How the Project Began (Part 1)
The spring of 2021 marked a turning point for many Rockwood School District families. After a year of virtual learning during the pandemic, parents had increased visibility into classroom instruction and curricular materials. With that visibility came new questions.
Some parents raised concerns about themes they believed were not age-appropriate or aligned with their expectations, including discussions related to privilege, race, and gender identity. Tensions escalated in April 2021 after a district-level email to principals was leaked publicly.
A Parent Raises Concerns
One complaint involved the novel Dear Martin, assigned in a freshman language arts class. The young adult novel follows a Black high school student navigating race and identity at a predominantly white prep school. In a classroom serving students with special needs, the book was read aloud rather than assigned for independent reading.
A parent later described the book as containing profanity, references to alcohol, and language she believed portrayed law enforcement and women negatively. She stated that her son felt uncomfortable during portions of the reading.
Upon learning the title was also available in the school library, the parent began reviewing the district’s library catalog using the Destiny Discover platform. That search led to broader questions about other titles available in district collections.
The Leaked Email
After receiving multiple complaints from parents, Natalie Fallert, Rockwood’s 6–12 Literacy and Speech Coordinator, sent an email to middle and high school principals discussing instructional practices and parent concerns. The email was leaked by a staff member.
In the message, Fallert referenced complaints that the district was “pushing an agenda,” “teaching Critical Race Theory,” and “making white kids feel bad about their privilege.” She offered suggestions to reduce future complaints, including modifying what materials were visible to parents within the Canvas learning management system.
According to the leaked email, suggested approaches included:
Avoiding certain terminology such as “privilege”
Removing or limiting parent visibility of full instructional materials in Canvas
Publishing condensed versions of lessons for general access while assigning more detailed materials to specific students
The email also characterized some concerned parents as organized in a manner that was perceived by many as dismissive.
The language and suggestions contained in the message generated strong reaction within the community. For several parents, the idea that instructional materials might be concealed from parent view raised significant trust concerns.
Media Coverage
The incident attracted attention beyond the district. On April 21, 2021, The Daily Wire published an article reporting on the leaked email and parental concerns. The article described the controversy surrounding curriculum transparency and the district’s response.
The coverage contributed to broader public awareness of the situation and intensified discussion within the community.
District Response
On April 24, 2021, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Shelley Willott sent a district-wide email to parents acknowledging the situation:
“Yesterday an email was sent… that suggested teachers hide or alter content visible to parents… Asking teachers to conceal anything from parents does not reflect the mission, vision and values of the Rockwood School District…”
Dr. Willott stated that the message had not been reviewed prior to distribution and that it was being addressed as a personnel matter. She emphasized the district’s commitment to transparency and partnership with families.
Despite the district’s response, the incident had a lasting impact. For some parents, the episode eroded trust in district leadership and prompted deeper examination of curriculum and library materials.
Library Exposed emerged during this period, with the stated goal of documenting publicly available books and providing excerpts so families could review materials directly.
Read Part 2 to learn what happened next.