JENKS, Okla. - A group of high school seniors hope to send a message of healing to students who felt belittled and degraded by a guest sex education speaker at Jenks High School.
National speaker, Shelly Donahue was contracted with the school to give a seminar about AIDS and HIV education to students, but instead made comments about girls desperation who come from broken homes.
Rob Loeber, Director of Communication at Jenks Public Schools said Donahue is not allowed back on campus for her remarks.
However, it’s the students who are sending her the message that she isn't welcome.
It’s supposed to be a place where students feel safe. But this week, some said they felt battered by the appearance of a last minute guest.
“A lot of the things were seemingly off, and that was picked up on very quickly,” Rachel Disler, a senior student at Jenks High School said.
Seniors gathered to hear Shelly Donahue give an educational speech about HIV and AIDS, but got something else instead.
“She didn't even say ‘when a woman with cleavage’… she says ‘when some cleavage walks in,’” Samantha Tomecek, a senior said.
Donahue apparently dehumanized women and referred to them as quote "crockpots" and men as "microwaves.” And it didn’t stop there.
“I had never heard of a speaker degrading a students family situation before,” Brooklyn Wilson, a senior said.
Donahue reportedly crossed a line when she said, “Do you know why girls are so desperate and always text guys first? Two words. Daddy left.”
Wilson, immediately took to social media, posting on Facebook about the crude remarks.
“She refers to women as desperate for having the confidence to text a guy first and to hear that, and to hear that from my peers, and to hear what they had to say, is so hurtful,” Wilson said.
Her post was hared nearly a thousand times, striking a chord with parents.
“I don't ever want her to go to one more school and affect one more mother or father’s child in the way this woman has affected these girls today,” Carrie Brooner, a concerned parent said.
Jerks High School officials are on the same page.
“Those were inappropriate comments that would not ever be endorsed, [and] would not ever be echoed by Jenks Public Schools and it is regrettable that those things were said,” Loeber said.
However, Donahue's damage was done, but senior Jenks girls have a message to those who might feel less after the speech.
“I want my peers to know that I stand behind them,” Wilson said. “That they don't need to feel bad about their family situations or any other choices they make in their life.”
Others echoed her statement.
“I don't want girls going out into the world thinking that they are not as strong and as capable just because of their familial situation,” Tomecek said.
The message is clear, and as for Shelly Donahue, she can mark Jenks Public schools off her list of any upcoming appearances.
School officials said Donahue was not their original speaker. Another speaker canceled and recommended her last minute.
Officials said they plan on determining a better vetting process for next time.
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