State officials ‘looking into all accusations’ as drag images surface<\/h2>\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/assets\/img\/icon\/chat-rect.svg\")
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<\/source><\/picture>iStock\/monkeybusinessimages<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nState education officials in Oklahoma are investigating the hiring of an elementary school principal earlier this summer who was known to previously face child pornography charges.<\/p>\n
Shane Murnan was hired by Western Heights Public Schools in Oklahoma City in June to serve as principal of John Glenn Elementary School despite a district statement at the time publicly acknowledging Murnan\u2019s past arrest record.<\/p>\n
In 2001, Murnan \u2014 then working as a fifth-grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary School \u2014 was charged <\/a>with felony possession of child pornography after police \u201cfound photographs in his computer of young boys having sex.”<\/p>\nHe was also charged with drug possession after police said they found six grams of marijuana in Murnan\u2019s home.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/images\/cache\/image\/15\/01\/150186_w_760_621.jpg\")
<\/source><\/picture>John Glenn Elementary School Principal Shane Murnan (left) in a photo of him with Western Heights Public Schools Supt. Brayden Savage shared on social media on August 16, 2023. <\/span> | Facebook\/ShaneMurnan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAccording to an affidavit cited by The Oklahoman at the time of Murnan\u2019s arrest, investigators found four images \u201cdepicting adolescent boys having sex with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murnan was suspended before ultimately resigning in May 2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A judge later dismissed <\/a>the child pornography charges which were expunged<\/a> from his record in 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\nUpon his hiring by the Western Heights Public Schools earlier this summer, the district initially released a statement <\/a>in June acknowledging they were \u201cmade aware of previous charges that were dismissed more than 20 years ago\u201d involving Murnan but did not provide any additional details.<\/p>\n\u201cDr. Murnan has been serving the field of education for more than 25 years and has an outstanding reputation. He comes highly recommended from previous supervisors, colleagues, and educators,\u201d the June 12 announcement from the district added.<\/p>\n
Following reports<\/a> that Murnan is also a drag performer who goes by the name of Shantel Mandalay, <\/a>WHPS Superintendant Brayden Savage<\/a> issued a statement on Aug. 30 saying that the district\u2019s board of education \u201cwas given all the information that the District had regarding Dr. Murnan\u201d at the time the employment recommendation was made on June 12.<\/p>\n\nMeet Shane Murnan- elementary principal at @wh_isd<\/a>.<\/p>\nShane is a drag queen who performs for children and reads books about gender to kids while dressed in drag.<\/p>\n
Shane was also previously arrested on child porn charges.<\/p>\n
Would you want this person in charge of your kid\u2019s school? pic.twitter.com\/yNuZyt3HRK<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
While Savage\u2019s statement did not reference new allegations about Murnan as a drag performer, the superintendent said he has continued to be certified as an elementary school teacher and principal, \u201cincluding having his certificate renewed in April of 2023 and signed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The letter also noted that the State Department of Education \u201cwould have conducted another felony background check\u201d upon renewal of Murnan\u2019s certification.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease know we are aware of the situation and handling this matter with the utmost attention and care,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
In response to Savage\u2019s statement, Walters called<\/a> the reports \u201cdisturbing\u201d and said the Department of Education \u201cis looking into all accusations and will taken [sic] any necessary action to protect our children.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cAnything that might expose kids to inappropriate sexual content at school is cause for serious concern to parents and is absolutely contrary to Oklahoma values,\u201d he added in the Aug. 31 statement. \u201cI will not allow rogue educators to endanger our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
An investigative report <\/a>by The V1SUT Vantage found an archived post <\/a>from March 2023 showing Murnan was named \u201cMiss Gay Oklahoma USofA Classic 2017\u201d and other similar titles dating all the way back to 2004.<\/p>\nThe report also found Murnan is listed in a 2018 corporate filing <\/a>for Oklahoma City Drag Queen Story Time Hour, an event in which he participated <\/a>in 2021 as part of a Facebook \u201cPride Online Storytime.\u201d<\/p>\nA public records request submitted by The Christian Post also found Murnan applied for minister\u2019s credentials<\/a> in 2014 in connection with Universal Life Church. While the docket was closed in 2014, Murnan is listed as \u201cminister\u201d under the document\u2019s parties.<\/p>\nIn April, Murnan (going by his drag name of Shantel Mandalay) shared <\/a>an image on Facebook of a person dressed in an Easter bunny costume surrounded by children with the caption, \u201cLife is about experiences and choices. I\u2019ve made a lot of bad decisions in my lifetime and learned from them. I\u2019ve also made some amazing decisions. One of those was becoming an educator.<\/p>\n“Having the opportunity to work with kids and encouraging them to do and be their best is so rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIan M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post and the author of\u00a0BACKWARDS DAD: a children’s book for grownups<\/a><\/em>. He can be reached at:\u00a0ian.giatti@christianpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nFree<\/span> Religious Freedom Updates<\/h2>\nJoin thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST<\/strong> newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/source><\/picture>State education officials in Oklahoma are investigating the hiring of an elementary school principal earlier this summer who was known to previously face child pornography charges.<\/p>\n
Shane Murnan was hired by Western Heights Public Schools in Oklahoma City in June to serve as principal of John Glenn Elementary School despite a district statement at the time publicly acknowledging Murnan\u2019s past arrest record.<\/p>\n
In 2001, Murnan \u2014 then working as a fifth-grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary School \u2014 was charged <\/a>with felony possession of child pornography after police \u201cfound photographs in his computer of young boys having sex.”<\/p>\n He was also charged with drug possession after police said they found six grams of marijuana in Murnan\u2019s home.<\/p>\n According to an affidavit cited by The Oklahoman at the time of Murnan\u2019s arrest, investigators found four images \u201cdepicting adolescent boys having sex with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Murnan was suspended before ultimately resigning in May 2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n A judge later dismissed <\/a>the child pornography charges which were expunged<\/a> from his record in 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n Upon his hiring by the Western Heights Public Schools earlier this summer, the district initially released a statement <\/a>in June acknowledging they were \u201cmade aware of previous charges that were dismissed more than 20 years ago\u201d involving Murnan but did not provide any additional details.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Murnan has been serving the field of education for more than 25 years and has an outstanding reputation. He comes highly recommended from previous supervisors, colleagues, and educators,\u201d the June 12 announcement from the district added.<\/p>\n Following reports<\/a> that Murnan is also a drag performer who goes by the name of Shantel Mandalay, <\/a>WHPS Superintendant Brayden Savage<\/a> issued a statement on Aug. 30 saying that the district\u2019s board of education \u201cwas given all the information that the District had regarding Dr. Murnan\u201d at the time the employment recommendation was made on June 12.<\/p>\n Meet Shane Murnan- elementary principal at @wh_isd<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shane is a drag queen who performs for children and reads books about gender to kids while dressed in drag.<\/p>\n Shane was also previously arrested on child porn charges.<\/p>\n Would you want this person in charge of your kid\u2019s school? pic.twitter.com\/yNuZyt3HRK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While Savage\u2019s statement did not reference new allegations about Murnan as a drag performer, the superintendent said he has continued to be certified as an elementary school teacher and principal, \u201cincluding having his certificate renewed in April of 2023 and signed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The letter also noted that the State Department of Education \u201cwould have conducted another felony background check\u201d upon renewal of Murnan\u2019s certification.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease know we are aware of the situation and handling this matter with the utmost attention and care,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n In response to Savage\u2019s statement, Walters called<\/a> the reports \u201cdisturbing\u201d and said the Department of Education \u201cis looking into all accusations and will taken [sic] any necessary action to protect our children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything that might expose kids to inappropriate sexual content at school is cause for serious concern to parents and is absolutely contrary to Oklahoma values,\u201d he added in the Aug. 31 statement. \u201cI will not allow rogue educators to endanger our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n An investigative report <\/a>by The V1SUT Vantage found an archived post <\/a>from March 2023 showing Murnan was named \u201cMiss Gay Oklahoma USofA Classic 2017\u201d and other similar titles dating all the way back to 2004.<\/p>\n The report also found Murnan is listed in a 2018 corporate filing <\/a>for Oklahoma City Drag Queen Story Time Hour, an event in which he participated <\/a>in 2021 as part of a Facebook \u201cPride Online Storytime.\u201d<\/p>\n A public records request submitted by The Christian Post also found Murnan applied for minister\u2019s credentials<\/a> in 2014 in connection with Universal Life Church. While the docket was closed in 2014, Murnan is listed as \u201cminister\u201d under the document\u2019s parties.<\/p>\n In April, Murnan (going by his drag name of Shantel Mandalay) shared <\/a>an image on Facebook of a person dressed in an Easter bunny costume surrounded by children with the caption, \u201cLife is about experiences and choices. I\u2019ve made a lot of bad decisions in my lifetime and learned from them. I\u2019ve also made some amazing decisions. One of those was becoming an educator.<\/p>\n “Having the opportunity to work with kids and encouraging them to do and be their best is so rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n Ian M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post and the author of\u00a0BACKWARDS DAD: a children’s book for grownups<\/a><\/em>. He can be reached at:\u00a0ian.giatti@christianpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST<\/strong> newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/images\/cache\/image\/15\/01\/150186_w_760_621.webp\")
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