Portland Public Schools (PPS), one of Oregon’s largest education systems, has become the center of a national controversy following the release of a back-to-school welcome video for teachers and staff. The video, shared on the district’s official Facebook page on Friday, featured drag performer Poison Waters, legally known as Kevin Cook, delivering the opening remarks for the 2026-27 academic year. Billed on screen as an advocate, educator, and host, Waters used the platform to express gratitude and encouragement to the district's educators.
"Portland Public Schools’ back-to-school video is beyond parody. The government school system is trying to groom young impressionable minds into gender ideology. They want to brainwash other people’s kids and replace their families." Corey DeAngelis, Education Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation
In the video, Waters conveyed a message of appreciation, stating, “I’m here to wish you all a successful 2026, 2027 school year and to thank all the amazing principals, teachers, and staff for your dedication to your students and their learning.” Waters added, “While we can often get caught up in the hustle and bustle, it’s so important to remember that together we rise with excellence and purpose.” Following Waters, the video included appearances by elected officials, such as Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Maxine Dexter, alongside other Portland-area figures.
The welcome message remained largely unnoticed until the social media account Libs of TikTok brought it to wider public attention. This exposure triggered a swift and significant wave of criticism from national figures, particularly those involved in the school choice and parental rights movements. Critics argued that the district’s choice of a drag performer for an official school message represented an overreach into ideological territory, diverting from the primary educational mission of public schools.
Corey DeAngelis, an education research fellow with the Heritage Foundation and a prominent advocate for school choice, was among the most vocal critics. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Monday, DeAngelis asserted, “Portland Public Schools’ back-to-school video is beyond parody. The government school system is trying to groom young impressionable minds into gender ideology. They want to brainwash other people’s kids and replace their families.” DeAngelis characterized the video as illustrative of a broader trend where public education officials encroach upon matters traditionally belonging to families. He emphasized, “The school system has overstepped their boundaries and needs to stay in its lane. The public school system is rubbing it in that they have control over children whether the parents like it or not. Kids don’t belong to the government. Parents are responsible for passing down values to their children, not government schools.”
DeAngelis further leveraged the controversy to bolster his argument for expanding educational alternatives. He stated, “The video posted on the school district’s official Facebook account is free advertising for school choice and homeschooling. Families need the power to take their children’s education funding to the schools that align with their values rather than subvert them.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Sonja Shaw, a California superintendent candidate, told Fox News Digital that the district’s decision was deliberate. “That wasn’t an accident. It was a choice. And it tells you exactly where the district’s priorities are,” Shaw remarked. She articulated a clear distinction regarding the purpose of public education: “Public schools exist to educate children in reading, writing, math, science and critical thinking. They are not stages for adult entertainment or ideological and cultural signaling.” Shaw urged the district to refocus on core academics, advising, “Get politics and adult entertainment out of our schools and get back to educating children.”
Tina Descovich, CEO and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, also weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that a man in drag is inappropriate for welcoming children back to school. Descovich accused Portland Public Schools of intentionally pushing a specific agenda. “Portland Public Schools has been unabashed about its objectives: hijacking the classroom to push a sexualized curriculum and progressive viewpoints on impressionable children,” she stated, also implicating teachers unions. “We see exactly what this district (backed fully by teachers unions) is doing, and Moms for Liberty will keep fighting to protect our children from the left’s indoctrination and get students back to learning again.”
Away from the political debate, Poison Waters has established a significant career within Portland’s entertainment and advocacy communities over several decades. Portland State University’s biography of Waters describes the performer as a long-standing entertainer, educator, and community advocate. Waters previously taught a noncredit course on the history of drag at Portland Community College and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by Portland State University in 2025.
This incident is not the first time Portland Public Schools has faced controversy concerning gender-related policies or curriculum. Just weeks prior to the video's release, Portland mother Allison Roberts filed a lawsuit against the district and her children’s elementary school. Roberts alleged that administrators retaliated against her after she objected to gender-identity curriculum and the display of a Progress Pride flag that included intersex representation. Fox News Digital previously reported that the district declined to comment on the ongoing legal case.
As of the time of publication, Portland Public Schools, Poison Waters, and Representative Dexter’s office had not responded to requests for comment regarding the welcome-back video. The controversy continues to fuel broader discussions about parental rights, curriculum control, and the role of public education in reflecting community values.
