Tennessee State Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) condemned school choice initiatives for “dumbing down” voters, but previously admitted to attending a private school, and was on the board of a private Montessori early childhood school that boasts a waiting list.
Campbell made the remarks on social media following an interaction with school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, who questioned the lawmaker’s claim that the school choice legislation reportedly promoted by Governor Bill Lee “will destroy public [education] and raise your taxes.”
After DeAngelis questioned Campbell’s claim, she asserted without evidence that DeAngelis is “paid by big oil” to promote school choice because “the dumbing down of the electorate is advantageous to his greedy donors.”
DeAngelis forcefully denied Campbell’s claim he is paid by “big oil,” and noted that Democrats have received more than 99 percent of donations from the American Federation of Teachers since 2000.
“Heidi, however, did go to private school and sent her kid to private school,” DeAngelis claimed in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He then condemned Campbell as “a liar and a hypocrite.”
this is a state senator lying about me.
her source shows zero evidence of me being "paid by big oil."
Heidi, however, did go to private school and sent her kid to private school.@Campbell4TN, you are a liar and a hypocrite.
delete this post and your account. pic.twitter.com/8mb9UNavVG
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) November 27, 2023
The Tennessee Star could not find evidence Campbell chose a private school for either of her children by press time, but during her campaign to become Nashville mayor, she told The Tennessean she attended St. Bernard Academy as a child.
On the school’s website, St. Bernard Academy explains that tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $16,000, which does not include the cost of school uniforms, supplies, or lunch programs. There is an additional $500 enrollment fee, and families are invited to pay in one payment, twice annually, or in monthly installments from July to April.
Campbell also told the outlet she established and chaired the Board of Children First Montessori, a private early childhood school that educates children beginning at two months of age and continuing through their fourth grade year.
Admissions information for the current academic year were not available on the school’s website at press time, but the institution warns interested families that “some applications will be placed on our wait list,” and children are selected based on which “best complements the class, giving preference to the earliest applicants and siblings.”
The Star previously reported that Campbell condemned Israel as an “oppressive regime” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “ruthless dictator” in social media posts made on October 8, within hours of the devastating Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7.
She also joined pro-Hamas protesters at a rally in Nashville that was organized by the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), though video seemed to show her rapidly leaving the protest shortly after she recognized her presence was recorded by cameras.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Heidi Campbell” by Tennessee State Senate; “Corey DeAngelis” by Corey DeAngelis; and “Tennessee Capitol” is by Andre Porter CC3.0.
She’s about to run for office for the fourth time in the past four years (3 different offices) whose funding all of that? She couldn’t be happy to be a Senator…she tried Congress and the Mayor now about to run for Senator again. That is not cheap. Enough already.
Frankly I’m not surprised at Heidi Campbell being supportive of Hamas. Apparently she has been “dumbed down” by yhe Democrat Socialists of America. She should take a trip to GAZA, & see what kind of reception she gets. They despise Americans. BTW. Why isn’t our illegitimate President demanding that Hamas release all hostages? Many of them American Citizens. Of course, they are Jewish. Maybe thats why they dont matter to Biden. Im sure Iran would abide by his wishes, bc he supports a 2-State Solution. That will not ever happen as long as Hamas ( terrorists funded by Iran) wants Israel & it’s citizens gone forever. They want the same for Americans.
I don’t know if Heidi is Catholic or not, if she went to St Bernard, she is quite privileged, which makes her hypocrisy so obvious. Typical Democrat Philosophy “RULES FOR THEE BUT NOT FOR ME”.
The Catholic Church, unfortunately, is being destroyed under the influence of a Socialist Pope Francis. And many have not pushed back against his radical Ideology that is in direct conflict with the Catholic Teachings. He actually recently fired Bishop Strictland (Austin. TX), bc the Bishop refused to recognize same sex marriage, among other non-Christian actions, which are directly opposed to Catholic Faith. I don’t think thats ever happened before.
Catholic Charities get Millions of tax dollars every year to hide, feed, transport, & house illegal immigrants. I hope our next President stops that BS. There are other NGO’s (non governtal agencies) that need to be eliminated as well. They ignore the Laws of this Country.
Public Education is a Failed Propaganda operation, that has as its goal to produce anti-American Activists rather than exceptional achievers, who will be good parents & great Citizens of this exceptional country.
SHAME ON HEIDI CAMPBELL. She is a Radical.
she’s a democrat. they lie. that’s what they do.