Excelsior Springs, Mo. (January 25, 2025) — A touch of the vitriol that has consumed our nation’s capitol has trickled into Excelsior Springs. Controversy erupted this week after screenshots of heated Facebook exchanges involving School Board Vice President Troy Snelling circulated in online political groups, prompting calls for his resignation.
The screenshots, shared widely by the group Missouri RINO Watch (Republican in Name Only), highlighted two comments Snelling made that were critical of President Donald Trump and his supporters, comparing them to Nazis. The posts quickly ignited backlash from Trump supporters and disappointment from some community members.
In an exchange on Jan. 9, Snelling responded to a Facebook post alleging that students in public schools can opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance. In response, Snelling commented, “Several religious groups cannot say the pledge. Jehovah’s Witnesses probably the most prominent.” Facebook User Darb Callaway countered, “Troy Snelling, they need to move then… your (sic) in AMERICA now. GOD BLESS THE US.A (sic).” Snelling, then lashed out, “Darb Callaway, I would leave tomorrow if I could and leave all you Nazi f***s to it. It isn’t that simple.”
In another exchange on January 22, 2025, Snelling commented on a post by former Excelsior Springs teacher Michelle Logston, who expressed concern over a newly announced Trump administration policy allowing federal immigration authorities to make arrests at schools, churches, and hospitals. Logston shared a KCTV5 article titled, “Trump’s immigration crackdown leaves some families weighing the risk of sending kids to school.” Snelling replied, “If our district allows this on our property, I will resign my board seat. We own our property. Of course, if we resist, [Trump] will send the Proud Boys he says he is going to give some sort of authority to beat or kill us. Full bore Fourth Reich.”
Missouri RINO Watch’s post sharing the screenshots labeled Snelling as “emotionally unstable” and called for his immediate resignation. The group’s statement read in part: “These are the LUNATICS heading up school district decisions and setting policy for OUR CHILDREN! SNELLING MUST RESIGN – HE IS TOO EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE TO LEAD POLICY DECISIONS!… THIS MARXIST MADNESS MUST END!”
The Petition
Thursday evening, Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Spear shared the screenshots with The Excelsior Citizen, stating that Snelling’s comments were “inexcusable.” By 8 a.m. Friday (Jan. 24, 2025), Spear created a Change.org petition urging Snelling’s resignation. The petition was shared on social media and by other local media outlets. By Friday evening, the petition had gained over 200 signatures, with approximately 65% of the supporters residing in the Excelsior Springs area.
While he emphasized that the petition was made “as a private citizen,” Spear was quoted in his correspondence with Missouri RINO Watch regarding the petition as “Mayor Spear.”
When asked why he took it upon himself to initiate the petition, Spear stated, “All citizens should be willing to get involved and hold those individuals accountable who lead – especially those overseeing our schools and children. That is exactly what I did. I have heard from multiple people about this issue today.”
Spear also provided his official stance on the situation, “It is the primary purpose of elected officials to represent ALL stakeholders fairly and objectively and for citizens to hold them accountable. Mr Snelling has demonstrated the inability to do that in his social media comments that were hate filled, inexcusable, and he should resign his seat on the Excelsior Springs School Board.”
Here’s the full text of the petition created by Spear calling for Snelling’s resignation:
This is not just an official request-it’s a deeply personal plea. After disturbing social media comments were made by Mr Troy Snelling, an Excelsior Springs School Board, it’s become painfully clear that this individual is unable to represent all stakeholders in our community fairly and objectively.
These comments have sent shockwaves through our district, leading many to question the integrity of our education system. Representation on the school board should reflect all stakeholders within our community and meet the ethical standards we associate with the education and development of our children. When these standards are not met by those in influential positions, action must be taken.
The National School Boards Association Code of Conduct emphasizes the importance of impartial decision-making, stating that board members are to
“make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.” Our board member’s actions have sadly proven to be incompatible with these fundamental principles.
This is not just about one individual. This is about the messages we send to our children about values, fairness, and respect. Hence, we demand the immediate resignation of Mr Troy Snelling from the Excelsior Springs School Board as his behaviors are contrary to our beliefs and hurtful to our children’s development. Join us by signing this petition, and let’s ensure our school board members always uphold the high standards of their roles.
Snelling’s Response
In an interview with The Excelsior Citizen on Friday morning, Snelling said he was already considering stepping down from the board. He added that no one from the community or city council had reached out to him to express concerns or get his side of the story before the petition was launched. However, he revealed that since the screenshots had been shared, he had received death threats from individuals online. After 28 years of teaching history at Park Hill and 13 years on the Excelsior Springs school board, he said, “It just isn’t worth the risk.” Snelling also expressed concern that the controversy over his comments could jeopardize the district’s upcoming levy vote in April, which he said was critical to securing better pay for teachers and more important to him than his position on the board.
By Friday evening, Snelling confirmed his decision and announced his resignation in a Facebook post:
On Monday I will resign my position on the Board of Education after an unending series of attacks, threats of violence and even death threats. This is being pushed by an Excelsior Springs City Councilman and his minion at the Standard. No one [from the Excelsior Springs Standard], for the record, has reached out to me for my side of the story.
Since being elected, I have never posted a single political post on my Facebook page as I believe it would be inappropriate as a nonpartisan elected official. I do however comment on posts occasionally.
Several days ago I responded, admittedly in anger, to a post by a well-known Q-anon in our town saying that Jehovah’s Witnesses should be forced to leave the country because they won’t say the pledge of allegiance. I was immediately reminded of the terrible suffering of the Witnesses under Hitler and likened the poster’s attitude to that of the Nazis, which it mirrored.
The comment I made was screenshotted and posted out of context. I regret that my anger caused me to use an expletive. I stand by the comparison. In the wake of the inauguration, I, like millions of people around the globe, likened what we saw to Nazi Germany. That is my right of free speech and you are welcome to disagree with me and exercise yours. This was also screenshotted from another persons fb page and posted.
Some of you are telling me to “fight” this. There really isn’t any fight- school board members can’t be removed unless they commit a felony. But there is the very real threat that I might be the target of violence, and I just didn’t sign up for that. Also, the forces that hate education will use this to attack our levy issue, and I won’t allow that to happen- better pay for our teachers is vital to our survival.
It has been an honor to serve for these years, working ceaselessly to build a beautiful new downtown school- and a beautiful Cornerstone as a bonus. I have fought for teachers and kids as long as I can. My mind is firmly made up on this matter and I appreciate your support. Some of you who I suppose can tell them they have won and they can take down their hate-filled campaign. If any of you stood up for me, thank you.
Next Steps for the School Board
Excelsior Springs Board of Education President Tray Harkins confirmed that the board would meet Wednesday to vote on Snelling’s resignation and elect a new vice president. The board will delay discussions on how to fill the vacancy until its February meeting to ensure proper legal procedures are followed.
According to Harkins, the board has a couple of options for filling Snelling’s seat: conducting interviews and voting to appoint a replacement or inviting the third-place finisher from the upcoming April election to fill the vacant seat.
Harkins reiterated that Snelling’s resignation will not impact the upcoming April 2025 school board election, in which incumbents Harkins, Kalyn Goode, and newcomer Anna Sue Spohn are vying for two open seats.
*Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the open seat could be offered to the third-place finisher from the previous school board election, Russell Wenz.
Edit made at 11:28 am January 25, 2025
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Tory Snelling is my new hero.