Poway Parent Advocate

Chris Garnier, a Marine Corp Officer Vet, spoke out against school officials and has been banned from his children's school for the next three years. After honorably serving his country, with three deployments to the Middle East, Chris returned home to go back to school pursuing his doctorate in education at USC and to spend time with his three children as a stay at home dad. As a stay at home dad, he was actively involved at his children's school since his oldest was in kindergarten. He was a room dad, attended every school play and field trip, and was actively involved in the PTA. When his oldest son entered the third grade, a new principal came to the school. This is when things began to change. The principal treated the Garnier family differently. She refused Chris's attempts to participate at school and failed to meet with him when he wanted answers as to why she treated the family differently. When Chris ran for the parent's position for Student Site Council, he won the election. The principal voided the election citing "technical problems" and held a second election. The second election was vastly different from the first one, requiring parents at the school to present ID before being allowed to vote. Some parents were turned away because they did not have a current ID available. Chris lost the second election. He protested the principal's actions and the actions of district officials via fliers and the almighty pen. The district sought a restraining order against him and won. The judge referred to his work with "colored children" as noble but he must not pester the school district about racism. The restraining order is being appealed. In the meantime, Chris has a three year restraining order and cannot come to any events for his children at school. If his children are sick, he cannot pick them up. He will miss parent/teacher conferences and even his oldest child's graduation from the fifth grade if he does not win on appeal.

How much power does a public school have over a parent's right to advocate for his/her children? Chris NEVER committed any violence. He NEVER threatened anyone. The district simply wants him quiet. In a district with almost 36,000 students, less than 1,000 are African American. There have been numerous problems with race at the district for decades and now, when a strong African American male voice is asking questions and holding people accountable, the district will exhaust resources to keep him away and keep him quiet.

The legal bills are mounting. The Garnier family's finances cannot keep up with the passion they have for keeping their children and other children in the district, safe from discrimination and mistreatment. This battle is about parental rights and about the First Amendment. Chris fought for this great nation to protect these rights we so easily take for granted. If parents can't protest and advocate for their children, how can we say we have true freedom of speech? The Garnier Family is humbly asking for donations to help with the appeal and to ease the burden of legal fees. Chris needs to be back at school with his children and his children need him just as much.

*Thank you for all those who have been there for us and for those who will continue to share our story.