Acting DeSoto ISD Superintendent Responds to Backlash from Social Media Posts

DESOTO (WBAP/KLIF) – The acting Superintendent for DeSoto ISD is under fire for comments and memes posted on his social media page in year’s past.

The posts date back as far as 2018 and included a meme of former NFL Quarterback Collin Kaepernick. The captioned photo read, “Kaepernick? Never heard of her.”

Another post showed Confederate soldiers on horse back. It was captioned, “Democrats haven’t been this mad at Republicans since we freed their slaves.”

The content was reportedly taken down from social media this week after criticism began to circulate the DeSoto community. The posts began receiving attention just days after Hooper was voted in as acting Superintendent during a special called virtual board meeting.

WFAA-TV Reporter Alex Rozier tweeted screenshots of the posts:

#New From acting Desoto ISD Superintendent Don Hooper: “The content in question does not reflect my leadership, character nor career. I love all people regardless of the color of their skin,” Hooper said. “I see people for their souls.”

Here are a few of Hooper’s FB posts: pic.twitter.com/LkBccrzTuJ

— Alex Rozier (@RozierReports) September 2, 2020

Hooper has since responded to the backlash.

“The content in question does not reflect my leadership, character nor career,” Dr. Hooper said. “I love all people regardless of the color of their skin,” said Dr. Hooper. “I see people for their souls. I’ve made my mistakes and had errors in judgment from time to time. I am human and not without fault. I ask forgiveness for those I have offended by my decision to share the content and have removed those posts as they do not reflect my beliefs about people. In this season, I do not desire to be another factor in the negativity that has surrounded DeSoto ISD. Instead, I want to emphasize the lesson learned in this moment, and move forward having grown as a person and leader.”

The President of the DeSoto ISD School Board issued a letter to the community in response to the posts.

DeSoto ISD School Community:

When matters of concern arise in our community, we desire to address those concerns as directly as possible.

My colleagues and I on the DeSoto Independent School District Board have been made aware of past social media posts shared to the personal social media account of Acting Superintendent Dr. Don Hooper whose hiring as a consultant was approved by the Board at the recommendation of the district’s former superintendent.

DeSoto ISD prides itself on its diverse school community and does not support, condone or excuse the rhetoric of the reposted content. In addressing the matter, Dr. Hooper has apologized for the content and his decision to share the content.

Given our current position as a district, Dr. Hooper was recommended as the district’s leader in this season of change as a result of his track record as a highly-experienced, long-serving educational leader and superintendent who is well-respected in business and educational professional organizations at the state and national level. Dr. Hooper has served diverse school communities like Galena Park ISD and Fort Bend ISD effectively for more than 15 years and has been proactive in creating opportunities for minorities in leadership throughout his career.

Dr. Hooper has apologized to the district and assured the Board that he is committed to leading with sensitivity and integrity and serving the students, staff and taxpayers of DeSoto ISD with fidelity.

Karen Daniel

DeSoto ISD Board President