Western Heights Public Schools
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Updated – February 20, 2024
A Western Heights Public Schools (WHPS) principal resigned following public outrage over his drag performances and past child pornography charges.
On February 4, 2024, the New York Post reported, “The Oklahoma elementary school principal with a drag persona and 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.”
On September 18, 2023, the School Board Watchlist team reported on WHPS’s decision to hire Murnan, who was arrested more than 20 years ago for possession of child pornography. At the time the images were discovered on Murnan’s computer, he was serving as a 5th-grade teacher at Stillwater’s Will Rogers Elementary School.
WHPS Superintendent Ryan Walters—who immediately called for Murnan’s resignation in September—posted an announcement on Twitter calling it a “great day” for WHPS.
Drag queens don’t belong in the classroom. This is common sense. @libsoftiktok pic.twitter.com/Efnk3yOeuj
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) February 2, 2024
One news source said the Department of Education has launched an investigation into Murnan’s teaching credentials and WHPS hiring practices. No official public comments have been made by any of the WHPS Board of Education members.
The School Board Watchlist team will continue monitoring issues in Western Heights Public Schools. Please send tips and information to [email protected].
Published – September 18, 2023
According to the New York Post, Western Heights Public Schools hired a drag queen who goes by “Shantel Mandalay” as an elementary school principal. Shane Murnan, the new principal at John Glenn Elementary, was arrested more than 20 years ago for possession of child pornography.
American Greatness reports that Murnan was also taken into custody for having “illicit drugs,” and the school district is defending its position on the recent hire. In August 2001, following an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the search “recovered four deleted images of children engaged in sex acts, according to court records. Police also found 6 grams of marijuana in his home. At the time, Murnan was a fifth-grade teacher at Stillwater’s Will Rogers Elementary School. After the arrest, school officials suspended Murnan and he resigned in May 2002.”
Meet Shane Murnan- elementary principal at @wh_isd.
Shane is a drag queen who performs for children and reads books about gender to kids while dressed in drag.
Shane was also previously arrested on child porn charges.
Would you want this person in charge of your kid’s school? pic.twitter.com/yNuZyt3HRK
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 30, 2023
I went with @TPUSA to @WesternHeights_ to inquire about a drag queen elementary school principal who was previously arrested on child porn charges.
They denied my request to speak. They denied others as well who would’ve spoken out against the principal. It was rigged.
After… pic.twitter.com/5kegDMht3f
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 14, 2023
See the video below of Murnan in his drag attire:
The response by the state has been overwhelmingly negative about the new principal. Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, called for the immediate termination of Murnan and shared his thoughts on the issue with Fox News on September 8, 2023:
See Murnan (Shantel Mandalay) in his drag attire below:
Western Heights Public Schools is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The district educates approximately 2,748 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1.
