WILL Defends Iowa Mom Threatened with Lawsuit for Speaking Out at School Board Meeting

WILL is representing an Iowa parent, and newly naturalized citizen from the Dominican Republic, who is facing a potential defamation lawsuit after she voiced concerns at a school board meeting regarding specific curriculum used in her son's classroom.

Our client, Elayne Casalins, raised concerns after a teacher showed the PG-13 movie, “Till,” to her son's 12-year-old class without parental notice or consent. She also reported that the class held discussions on sensitive topics like Black Lives Matter, racism, and police brutality without any prior parental notification.

Before speaking to the school board, Mrs. Casalins had attempted to resolve these issues by contacting her son’s teacher, school principal, and superintendent. When no action was taken, she decided to address the school board directly. Following her public comments, she received a cease-and-desist letter from the law firm Boles Witosky Stewart Law PLLC, demanding that she stop all public comments regarding her concerns.

Elayne Casalins, stated, “As a new American citizen, I have constitutional rights that make this nation the envy of the world. There is no better place to live your life and raise a family, and we moved to Iowa to live in a state that upholds these fundamental American values. I was shocked to receive such a threatening letter from a law firm representing a public employee, my son’s teacher. But I will continue to tell my story and speak out for my son and the rights of parents across the country.”

On behalf of Mrs. Casalins, WILL rejects the legal arguments and demands made in the threat to sue her. WILL sent a response letter to Boles Witosky Stewart Law PLLC, which can be read HERE.

Expanding Education for Wisconsin Students

WILL unveiled a new report detailing how Wisconsin can unlock a major stream of education funding for Wisconsin families – all at no expense to the state.

The opportunity comes from the recently enacted "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which creates a nationwide tax credit scholarship program for K-12 students. However, for Wisconsin to benefit from this program, Governor Tony Evers must take action by opting the state in.

In the report, WILL outlines how this groundbreaking federal law creates a permanent K-12 scholarship program that is funded through private donations and incentivized by an annual 100% federal tax credit for individuals of up to $1,700.

Beyond private school tuition, scholarships can also cover services such as tutoring, transportation, internet access, and therapies for students with special needs.

WILL Education Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “This new federal program offers a meaningful way to expand educational opportunity for Wisconsin students – at no cost to the state. Whether it’s tuition, tutoring, or therapy, families should have every tool to help their kids succeed. We would like to see Governor Evers act so that Wisconsin families don’t miss out.”

Join WILL at Celebration Dinner on September 17th: Only 35 Days To Go!

WILL's annual dinner will be held on September 17th at The Italian Community Center in Milwaukee, featuring our keynote speaker, Jonathan Turley.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE BY SEPTEMBER 2.

The evening begins with an open bar cocktail reception at 5:00 p.m. including music and passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by Bartolotta’s three-course filet dinner and program. Attendees will receive a copy* of Jonathan's latest book, The Indispensable Right: Freedom of Speech in an Age of Rage compliments of The Bradley Impact Fund, sponsors of the event.

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available for this special event. If you're interested in showing your support, contact [email protected] | (414) 617-1144 to put together a table of friends for s great night.

General admission tickets: $175 / attendee VIP tickets: $525 / attendee (VIP includes meet & greet with Jonathan Turley).

Don't delay. This event is trending to sell out for the fourth year in a row!

*one book per household

WILL Provides New Resources to Empower Parents

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Mahmoud v. Taylor decision, WILL released a one-stop shop of tools designed to help parents, teachers, and school administrators protect the fundamental right of families to raise their children.

As the 2025-2026 school year begins, WILL’s resources help education stakeholders follow the SCOTUS ruling which confirmed that public schools must accommodate religious objections to curriculum that conflicts with a family's values and beliefs. Resources include:

• Model Opt-Out School Board Policy
• Legal FAQ Explainer on Mahmoud
• Parent Opt-Out Form
• Template Notice Letter for Teachers

Dozens of families across 12 states (so far) have already downloaded WILL's parental opt-out form, showing a clear need for this effort across the country.

WILL Efforts Highlighted in National Review

WILL Education Counsel Cory Brewer and American Enterprise Institute Research Fellow Daniel Buck penned an op-ed following the Mahmoud decision.

The piece was featured in the National Review and provides further information on how the ruling affirms parents' voice in their child's education and the resources now available to them through WILL.

Other Ways To Get Involved With WILL:

There are so many ways that you can help us defend freedom in Wisconsin and across the country! Here's a few ways you can do that.

1. Forward this email to three friends and encourage them to sign up for our updates.
2. Know somebody who is looking for legal representation or a talented individual who wants to be a part of our team? We are always looking for clients (Click Here) and resumes (Click Here)!
3. Consider making a contribution today. Even just $20, $50, or $100 can make all the difference. DONATE

Read more at www.will-law.org.

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