Oklahoma drag queen elementary school principal resigns amid outrage, official says

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Ryan Walters calls for drag queen principal to be fired

Oklahoma’s superintendent of education, Ryan Walters, called for a drag queen principal at John Glenn Elementary School to be immediately fired.

The principal of an Oklahoma elementary school who also has a background as a drag queen and previously faced child pornography charges has resigned, education officials said this week. 

Dr. Shane Murnan, who performed as a drag queen named “Shantel Mandalay,” served as principal of John Glenn Elementary School in Oklahoma City after being hired in June 2023, Fox 25 reported. Shortly after she was hired, the Western Heights School District announced that it was “aware of previous charges that were dismissed more than 20 years ago.”

Murnan was connected to the alleged drag queen activities by the popular Libs of TikTok social media account in September 2023. Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, called on him to step down, while praising the social media account for outing her.

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Shane Murnan, who performed as a drag queen named “Shantel Mandalay,” served as principal of John Glenn Elementary School in Oklahoma City. ( Metropolitan Library System)

“The drag queen is out at Western Heights. I’ve demanded it from day one,” Walters said in a video posted Friday on X. “This is not what parents want for their kids.”

“The issues at Western Heights continue. What is going on with their hiring practices?” Walters asked. “It will not be tolerated here in Oklahoma to have drag queens in the classroom.”

The news outlet reported that Murnan read children’s books during a story hour at the Metropolitan Library System on Jun. 15, 2021. Library officials said organizers performed a background search of Murnan preceding the event. 

After social media posts last year accusing Murnan of being a drag queen and news of the alleged child porn charges, the school district received threats, forcing it to hire extra security and instruct Murnan to work off-site most days.

Rich Kuntz, also known as Gidget, reads to children during Drag Queen Story Hour on March 21, 2019. The LGBT+ Center Orlando canceled a weekend drag queen story hour for children after receiving online threats.   ((Sarah Espedido/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images))

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He was later placed on administrative leave.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the school district and Waters’ office. 

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.