Opinion/Education
From: Jack Knocke
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 11:53 AM
To: ‘Kathy Burns’ [email protected]; ‘Shannon Hogue’ [email protected]; ‘Kristi Simpkins’ [email protected]; ‘Joseph Zimmerman’ [email protected]; ‘Gail Cook’ [email protected]; ‘Lissa Braddock’ [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: NCSD: Deception, doublespeak and hiding behind processes
At the June 12, 2025 Nassau County School Board (NCSB) meeting, an extremely pornographic excerpt of the Nassau County library book Boy Toy by Barry Lyga was read by Pastor John Amanchuwhu. (Link to meeting video below). The only comment by Superintendent Burns was “Boy Toy” is not in Yulee. This was a deceptive comment because the book has been in Yulee High School and was only pulled from the shelf and moved to the district office after public objection. The district informally removed most of the books previously, then replaced the books due to Superintendent Burns recommending the return of the book and the Board going along with the Burns recommendation in a 5-0 vote like just about every board vote that is made. Advice to board is flawed and oversight is lacking.
Here is the NCSD Destiny book system link showing the book in Yulee High School – in processing means under review. The system lists the book as “child sexual abuse” and “psychotherapy”. They have it listed as appropriate for students in 7th grade.
The Nassau County school district is relying on the public to object to books and not proactively removing porn books from our school libraries.
Has anyone at NCSD looked at other Barry Lyga (Boy Toy author) books in our schools? With a quick search, yes there are nine of his books in NCSD.
According to Barry Lyga author profile – His books explore many intriguing issues, death, dying, deek and Goth subcultures, teacher student affairs and more. See list of Lyga’s books in Nassau below.
Below are reviews of some of Barry Lyga’s books in Nassau County School Libraries.
Bang – Yulee HS, West Nassau HS – Gun Violence & Accidental Death, Suicide & Suicidal Ideation, Discrimination & Prejudice, Guilt, Family Strain & Emotional Trauma, for Young adults who are ready for serious discussions about mental health, trauma, and societal issues. Mature younger readers should approach cautiously, ideally with parental support due to the heavy themes.
Yesterday Again – Yulee Elementary. The story involves “zombies!” unleashed in the present, adding a horror-like suspense element, Family Trauma & Emotional Weight, Kyle’s moral choices involve acts of theft, sabotage, and risking others’ safety—eliciting guilt and internal conflict, layered with genuine suspense, emotional depth, and morally gray decisions
Mad Mask – Yulee Elementary – superhero tale with some darker undertones, fights, property destruction, and non-lethal conflict with law enforcement and military, Secondary characters are captured, with lingering psychological effects. Explores societal horror/fear around “beauty” and physical appearance. Ethical manipulation: Kyle is influenced by darker forces and experiences moral confusion.
The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl – Yulee HS – bullying, friendship, mental health, teen recklessness, and dark humor, Bullying & School Violence Fantasies, Self-Harm & Emotional Instability, Teen Recklessness & Risky Behavior, The dialogue is raw and unfiltered, with frequent profanity and teenage slang, References to sexual content include mentions of breasts, panty voyeurism, and crude male fantasies
The Hive – FB and Yulee HS – dystopian thriller (look it up), Online Vigilantism & Public Shaming, Online Hate & Threats, Violent Flash Mobs, The novel satirizes “cancel culture,” mob justice, and the unchecked power of online platforms,
The question Superintendent Burns should have asked is “what other garbage does this author have in our schools?” and then take action to quietly take out the garbage. Where is the school board with oversight?
Interestingly, the NCSB had no discussion at the official board meeting (June 12) about the porn books. Superintendent Burns seeks to have these discussions outside of official sessions in a workshop (June 9) that is lightly attended with less scrutiny. So, let’s look at the last School Board Workshop.
At June 9, 2025 NCSB meeting, the school district was asked to provide context on the Florida Education Commissioner, Manny Diaz, letter to Hillsborough County Superintendent about porn books in Hillsborough County Schools. Superintendent Burns mentioned that there was also a June 4 meeting of the FDOE (Florida Department of Education) where this matter was discussed, but her representation was limited to shielding the NCSB from the real message from that FDOE meeting.
The bottom line was that on June 4, 2025, FDOE and the Education Commissioner said to get the porn books out now, stop hiding behind processes, fire the media specialists who put these books in libraries or who are advocating for the books, Superintendents should act NOW or face referral to the State Attorney and face a third degree felony subject to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine. They also stated that School Boards that are complicate could also be held individually liable. They stated that the “under review” process and holding on to books for “process” was unacceptable. The FDOE made it very clear that maintaining porn books in the schools is unacceptable and that the Superintendent and School Board are responsible for taking action. As the CEO of a school district, Superintendent Burns has and has had the power, authority and responsibility under Florida Statute 847.012, obscenity to minors, to remove the books entirely. If she does not, she can be held accountable.
NCSD has been chasing their tail with book review committees, processes, and other distractions wasting precious time and public tax dollars while ignoring the real problem of getting books out. At meetings, the oversight administrators Mathis and Burgess-Watkins appear to not know what is going on. Their process has put two porn (Beloved and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) books BACK on the library shelves again. How many times do citizens have to remove them?
At the June 9th workshop, Superintendent Burns innocently stated that books can be removed in the future via the informal process. That they have to go through the formal review process now because of objections. This is actually disingenuous.
ALL 60 objected to books were already removed through an informal review process (2022, 2023, 2024). But, they were retained by the school district, like saving a penthouse magazine under the mattress, so that they could be returned at a later date which is exactly what the school district did in 2024. Superintendent Burns recommended the return of the books and the School Board voted 5-0 with the Superintendent to return them. Only then did the board half-heartedly ask questions only to be told by School Board Attorney, Brett Steger, that the board had no power over the books. That was bad legal advice.
Now, at the June 9 NCSB workshop, Burns claims that the informal review process will solve everything going forward. How is anyone to believe that? We have already been there and done that – and here we are. Burns is playing the citizens of Nassau county with deception, doublespeak and hiding behind processes that she wrote.
When talking about the FDOE’s requirement to remove the books, Burns response is that Attorney Steger claims that NCSD must reserve $200k in legal fees if they take action to remove the books. Steger did not mention that the Superintendent and School Board members will need to reserve 5 years of their life and $5,000 per charge if they fail to take action to protect Nassau children from porn in our school libraries.
Misty Mathis made some bold statements at the June 9 NCSB workshop. She stated that no employees of NCSD want to retain porn in our school libraries. That is not correct. In fact, there are radical media specialists in our school district who ordered the books, who defended the books on social media and who vote to retain the porn when they are on the book review committee. There is no oversight of the staff members who are complicit. There has been no action to discipline or better yet, remove media specialists to stop this madness.
Mathis stated boldly that porn books will not be in our schools because of new “processes”. That is incorrect also. NCSD is doing nothing to remove books proactively. NCSD now depends on citizens to make formal objections. That is the NCSD process.
Here is another example of a book in our Nassau County School Library. The book Dead End by Jason Myers is in Yulee High School. The same high school as Boy Toy read on June 12. There is clearly a problem with Dead End.
This book contains obscene and aberrant sexual activities including sexual assault; sexual nudity; profanity; drug and alcohol use; graphic violence; and self-harm including suicide.
Links to details on the book Dead End:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbrYW8g3MvBu-WrzYpN_s5-2uELPy5YF/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mqCVVYxIs6Jh61yfRFbGB4SqZDhfJCps/view
https://www.libraryexposed.com/books/dead-end
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dead_End/JmIzK1j69h0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
How you might ask could this book be on our bookshelves in Nassau? Consider this an informal request by Jack Knocke to remove Dead End immediately.
Misty Mathis stated that these books could not be in our schools based on training of the Media Specialist and new processes that they have instituted. It’s here. Citizens can easily find these books – why can’t our staff.
What any competent person would do next is to see if there are any other Jason Myers books in our schools. Yes there are: The Mission by Jason Myers. Let’s make this another informal objection by Jack Knocke – Remove The Mission. NCSD has not sought to find it so once again it is up to citizens to bring it to their attention.
- The novel is “saturated with F‑bombs and other expletives”, using profanity extensively throughout the text
- explicit drug use, profanity, violence, sexual content, and misogyny
- Contains gratuitous hook‑up sex and descriptions of losing one’s virginity
- Not just youthful exploration but casual sex, frequently depicted in a blunt, somewhat detached manner.
- terrible wife‑beating dialogue
- slut‑shaming: female characters are judged harshly for promiscuity
Note that the new NCSD policy of restricting books to 11 and 12 graders is not shielding books from minors. The two porn books returned by the NCSD Committee Review process puts the administration at risk of criminal prosecution. There is a clear flaw in this process due to student ages by grade.
Board members Kristi Simpkins and Joe Zimmerman are the newest members of the Nassau County School Board. They were not part of the board that voted to return 60 porn books to the shelves. They are asking questions and are responsive to inquiries. Maybe there is hope. Prompt action is required now. A special board meeting should be called with urgency.
Here are links to the recent meetings noted above.
June 12, School Board Meeting
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DET6YU17063D
Pastor John Amanchukwu Starts at 45:10 minute mark
(by allowing this to be read and putting this video online, has NCSD posted porn on their website?)
Jack Knocke – Starts at 52.09 minute mark
Robert Goodman – Starts at 1:00.11 minute mark
June 9, School Board Workshop
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DET6YU17063D
Book Review process Discussion Starts at 16.48 Minute mark
June 4, Florida Department of Education meeting
https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/6-4-25-state-board-of-education-meeting
Superintendent responsibilities for book removal Starts at 2:05:00 mark to 2:44:00
Next time NCSD has board workshop or board meeting to discuss library books, they should invite Jack Knocke and other objectors to speak and discuss with this board!
NCSD Destiny library book search tool
Nassau County Books objected to thus far (68)
By Jack Knocke
If you have any questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to call.
Jack
Jack Knocke
470-295-4365
This is the earlier email sent to the school board Friday, June 13, 2025.
From: [email protected] [email protected]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2025 2:34 PM
To: [email protected]; ‘Shannon Hogue’ [email protected]; ‘Kristi Simpkins’ [email protected]; ‘Joseph Zimmerman’ [email protected]; ‘Gail Cook’ [email protected]; ‘Lissa Braddock’ [email protected]
Subject: Appeal for Superintendent Burns to remove porn books immediately
Nassau County Superintendent and School Board,
You are being put on notice again today. For 3 years now, citizens of Nassau County have been requesting that pornographic books be REMOVED from our school system. The superintendent as CEO of our school system has total authority to remove books from our schools as a normal part of the curation process. There is NO educational value for any of these books that have been objected to. Speaking, as the school board attorney did last night, about “process” is over. There is no first amendment right to require a book be in a public school. Process continues to be used as a deception and delay tactic. Remove means get them out, destroy them, totally remove them from everywhere. Holding them back for review or eventual return to the shelves is unacceptable behavior. Requiring citizens and staff to read these porn books is beyond a waste of money, time, resources that should be focused on education.
Nassau County has the SAME ISSUES as Hillsborough County with a superintendent who is NOT taking action and media specialists acting as activists (in their job, in social media and on review boards). Below is a link to the Florida Department of Education June 4 meeting. The relevant times start at 2:05:40 to 2:44:00. They make it VERY CLEAR that taking action to remove the books is the RESPONSIBILITY and DUTY of the Superintendent – violation is a Third-Degree Felony against the Superintendent and Board Members individually.
https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/6-4-25-state-board-of-education-meeting
Since members of the Nassau County School District were at the Florida Board of Education meeting on June 4th and several actually watched the meeting online, I’m surprised and disappointed that the very relevant discussions on books were NOT brought up at the Monday June 9th NCSB workshop. This is a blatant withholding of relevant information from our Nassau County School Board. The Thursday, June 12 school board meeting was a joke. There were all 5-0 votes and no real discussions of issues. All of the discussions are in private meetings and workshops leading to consent agenda and no public conversation. This is not transparent and not the way the business of our school board should be handled.
What was said at the State Department of Education meeting is the same things that I and other citizens of Nassau County have been saying to this school board and your Superintendent for over 3 years. Here is one example. September 12, 2024 Jack Knocke speaking to NCSB on porn books in our school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0W8mSqCGJs This all started with the first 10 books requested for removal in 2022. They were removed privately by the Superintendent. When I asked what she did with them, she said that they were “at the district office”. Why were they held in our school system at all? It’s like hiding the playboy magazine so that nobody can see it, but it can always be pulled out later. That’s what’s happening here in Nassau!
The current review process is an exercise in wasting money, causing 9 people to read every one of the porn books, causing staff to build and manage processes and scheduling public meetings that are totally unnecessary.
For those of you who are new to the board you should know that November 9, 2023, 31 books were declared by a school senior staff team to be in violation of Florida Statute 847.012. This file was delivered to me by Superintendent Burns. I have shared this file with you in the past and do so here again today. These books have all now been put into the committee review process. This is abhorrent and potentially criminal behavior by our school system.
Two pornographic books have been returned to the Nassau School Shelves thus far due to the flawed committee process. The flawed process and inaction by Superintendent Burns allowed this to happen.
My request is that the Superintendent with the support of this board take immediate action for complete removal from the school system to prevent the need for legal action by the State Attorney and/or local citizen civil action. According to the Florida State Attorney, action will be taken as a part of the Parents Rights Office. I also intend to make criminal referrals to the State Attorney. Statutes are clear and unambiguous. Prosecution should begin now if these books are not removed entirely from our school system or destroyed within 2 weeks.
Further actions should include firing all Nassau media specialists especially those fighting the removal of porn books in social media and in review committees.
Courage is required to do the right thing for the children.
Jack
Jack Knocke
470-295-4365
