Earlier this week, the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board voted to oust its controversial president.
Heather Rooks had been pushing for a third-party investigation into whether school officials had met mandatory reporting requirements amid allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct by two former teachers. Her request was tabled at an April meeting.
Newly elected board President Jeff Tobey expressed his disappointment with Rooks’ subsequent actions.
"She gave a media interview and made additional criminal referrals against our administrators, including for the very first time our own superintendent. Statements such as quote, a student reached out and nothing was done," said Tobey.
He called those claims inaccurate. Rooks also addressed the board and public.
"In that police report there were no other staff members interviewed. There was no fellow co-workers of the two teachers that were interviewed but was interviewed was parents, students and all of the interviews the students were describing the behavior of Haley Beck as weird, flirty and inappropriate," said Tobey.
Several parents and teachers also spoke out against Rooks ahead of the vote. Rooks will remain on the board.
Rooks and another board member made headlines in July 2023 when they quoted the Bible during time for making general comments at public meetings.
This drew pushback from groups that advocate for the First Amendment’s separation of church and state.
The district’s lawyer advised board members to not recite scripture.
Rooks sued the district, alleging her First Amendment rights on religion and free speech were being violated. A federal judge in 2025 sided with the district, writing that Rooks was given legal advice warning of liability that could come from her actions.
The lawsuit cost the district roughly $218,000 in legal fees, according to a public records request.
KJZZ’s Matthew Casey contributed to this report.
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