Below is a letter written by Steve Dennison in response to MFPE’s President Elect Melissa Romano’s statement in Beacon’s April 15 edition:
“We Republicans would appreciate you publishing an alternative position to that of MFPE President Elect Melissa Romano who also is Montana State Representative in HD81 (D Helena) since January 2023. In the Beacon April 15 edition Romano referenced HD 13 Candidate for the MT House, Finley Warden (R Polson). Finley Warden in 2024 and 2025, then a student, volunteered his personal time to attend the Montana Federation of Public Employees Educator Conference. This conference consists of breakout groups on a multitude of subjects. Montana public schools are required to close for this annual event during which teachers fulfill their mandatory professional development training.
Romano stated Warden recorded “snippets” of a MFPE Union sponsored workshop and details provided were alleged to be “misinformation”. The subjects on that recording are not misleading or misinformation. These workshops are teaching how to incorporate Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles into teaching, even in the face of restrictive laws and parental opposition.
Mr. Finley has full recordings of MFPE’s 2024 and 2025 workshops breakout sessions he attended from which he produced a Summary with details of each topic. We want your readers to know the topics and suggested action steps being taught under the guise of “Continuing Education to keep professional certification” include: The LGBTQ State of the State, Micro Aggression at the Workplace, Teaching Humanities in Polarized Times, Advocacy and Law for Librarians and DEI & A in the 2025 Classroom.
These Union workshops are not “misinformation”, they are an overt attempt to continue teaching Left Wing doctrine when school administrators and teachers have been told to stop. Matt Reiger R – Kalispell Senate President is to be commended for stating he will in 2027 be bringing back a Bill to end these State mandated Union public-instructions sessions and related days.”
