How the culture wars are reshaping public education, an interview with Sue Granzella

Reno teacher Shaughn Richardson and retired California educator Sue Granzella discuss in this special episode her book “Pushed to the Edge: Teacher Stories from the Culture Wars.” 

The educators discuss how the pandemic accelerated teacher burnout, how school board politics have transformed classrooms and why many educators feel increasingly unsupported and targeted. Granzella also shares firsthand accounts from teachers across California dealing with book bans, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, parental backlash and threats tied to culture war controversies.

The discussion also explores teacher shortages, education funding, union support, and the widening gap between what educators are expected to do and the resources they actually receive. They talk how classrooms evolved from the 1980s through the pandemic era, including increased administrative demands, technology changes, smartphones, AI, and growing pressure on educators. Sue describes how expectations kept piling onto teachers without support being removed elsewhere.

The pandemic
Sue recounts the emotional exhaustion of teaching during COVID-19, including delivering supplies to students’ homes, learning new technology on the fly, supporting multilingual families, and participating in contentious union bargaining sessions. She explains that repeated shifts between virtual and hybrid learning ultimately pushed her into retirement.

After retiring, Sue says the Proud Boys disrupting a Drag Story Hour event near her former school inspired her to begin interviewing teachers across California. What started as outreach to hear educators’ stories eventually became a book documenting how political and cultural conflicts are affecting schools.

Sue explains how she cold-emailed teachers across urban, suburban and rural California districts seeking stories about harassment, censorship and classroom conflicts. She says many educators initially hesitated out of fear or trauma but eventually agreed to share their experiences anonymously.

Navigating political pressure
The conversation shifts toward how teachers balance following district rules with protecting students and teaching honestly. Sue describes educators learning education law in detail to defend themselves against complaints and investigations, while others stay silent out of fear of losing their jobs.

Shaughn and Sue discuss how school board races have become central battlegrounds in national political conflicts. Sue shares stories from Temecula, California, where organized political groups backed school board candidates pushing anti-CRT and anti-diversity policies. Teachers and community members responded by organizing recalls and running their own campaigns.

Despite burnout and threats, Sue says she was inspired by how deeply committed many educators remain to students and public education. She describes teachers continuing to organize, speak publicly, and support one another even after facing harassment and intimidation.

When asked what advice she would give younger educators, Sue encourages them not to isolate themselves. She says finding supportive colleagues and maintaining strong professional relationships is essential for surviving the emotional demands of teaching.