Tully, N.Y. -- When Tyler Johnson, 17, was selected as a “Senior Spotlight” for his school’s January newsletter, he had to answer several questions. One asked about his biggest challenge and how he’d overcome it.
Johnson, a senior at Tully High School, answered honestly. For him, that challenge was growing up gay and overcoming bullying in his life.
That answer didn’t sit well with the Tully school district administration. Johnson says his high school principal, Mike O’Brien, called him into his office last Thursday to tell him he had to rewrite his statement or it would be excluded.
Why? Johnson’s answer violated a “district policy” which stated that religion, sexual orientation or illegal drugs couldn’t be included in the school newsletter, the student says he was told. The teen responded by saying then he didn’t want to be included in the newsletter, the Knight Insight, at all.
Instead, the teen took his experience to social media, a move that attracted support and attention from national media and community members. By Sunday, Tully Superintendent Robert Hughes reversed his editorial decision and pledged to publish Johnson’s original answers.
Johnson says that’s not enough.
“I knew this was happening to other people,’’ he said. “I wanted everyone to know how unacceptable this is. The school needs to be held accountable.”
Johnson said what happened to him highlights what’s happening to other gay teens, and that’s why it struck a chord. He’s now calling on both Hughes and O’Brien to step down. The school district held an emergency school board meeting Monday night and discussed the matter in a closed-door session.
About 40 supporters stood with Johnson out in the cold while the school board met, and then called on the superintendent and principal to resign. Hughes said he updated the board on the incident, and it had to be done in executive session because they were discussing an individual student.
Hughes told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Tuesday morning that he made the decision and says it was the wrong one. He told the principal to communicate it to the student - and quickly realized he’d made the wrong call.
Hughes said he “wanted to stay neutral” in the newsletter, which goes out to the entire community, and that there is no policy prohibiting what is written in the publication. He said there is no written policy,
“My intent wasn’t to make anyone upset,’' he said. “We are a small school district and community, and we want to include and embrace everyone. If someone doesn’t feel we are doing that, we have a lot of work to do.”
Hughes said the school board will make inclusion a top priority. He also said he wants to meet with Johnson and his family and have a conversation. Hughes said he is sorry for his mistake.
Johnson said what happened highlights what’s happening to gay kids across America, and that’s why it struck a chord. He said the district is scrambling now to reverse an unwise decision.
“You think you came so far in society and then this happens, and you realize how much work still needs to be done,’’ the teen said.
The controversy started late last week.
After his meeting with the high school principal, Johnson, upset, took to the social media platform TikTok to express outrage over the district’s response. By Friday morning, his TikTok video had 12,000 views and was climbing. (As of this morning, his original post had 14,000 views.)
A media outlet from California began to pay attention, and Johnson began to give interviews.
Friday morning, he was called into the principal’s office again, but this time he was told the decision had been reversed, and his statement would be included as written. Johnson said he told the principal he now felt uncomfortable in the school.
On Sunday, superintendent Hughes posted a letter to the community on the school’s website saying he had made the wrong decision.
“It was not fair to this student, who has demonstrated great courage and honesty in revealing his struggles and in being true to who he is as a person,” Hughes wrote. “I do admire him for that. This was also a decision that also goes against values we are teaching our students, specifically tolerance, acceptance and resiliency.”
Hughes said in the letter that he originally refused to run the statement because he was worried it “would stir up additional controversy in our school community.” That, Hughes wrote, would “hinder the work” related to the state education department’s efforts to work on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The superintendent said he would publish the student’s statement as written, which outlined Johnson’s biggest challenge: “Growing up gay and coming out. I had to learn how to become comfortable in my own skin and how to stay strong through bullying and all the negative experiences I had while trying to navigate through life,” Johnson wrote.
In announcing Monday’s emergency meeting, Hughes said in another online post he wants to apologize to the student and his family. He took full responsibility for the decision, saying the principal was just doing what Hughes asked him to.
Johnson said he hoped to garner some support from his TikTok videos, but he didn’t know it would attract such attention. He moved to Tully from West Virginia in 2019, and came out as gay shortly before he moved.
At school on Monday, Johnson said he was greeted by signs showing other students’ support and rainbow flags everywhere. He started a Facebook group, Time for change Tully, and is continuing to do national interviews.
Hughes in his latest message said the board will be working to address the issue.
“Clearly as a school district we have to do a better job of supporting our LGBTQIA+ students,” the superintendent wrote. “I have room to grow in this area as well. I am committed to growing in this area and taking the necessary steps to forge substantial, enduring changes.”
As of Monday night, Johnson said, he is striving for more.
“Something needs to change,’' Johnson said.
Below are some videos Tyler Johnson posted on TikTok:
Part 1: https://www.tiktok.com/@_tyl.../video/7050249865988771119...
Part 2: https://www.tiktok.com/@_tyl.../video/7050432576942755119...
Part 3: https://www.tiktok.com/@_tyl.../video/7050579262440688943...
Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime at 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com