Sally Reed
California teachers Kali and Joshua Fontanilla recently resigned from their public school positions due to concerns over “woke lies” and “indoctrination” in the classroom. The couple, married for over 20 years, decided to establish their own Christian online school in Florida that resists what they see as a left-leaning agenda in public education.
With a growing online audience and nearly 200 students, the Fontanillas have tapped into the national debate over how race, gender, and history are taught in schools.
Teachers Dissatisfied With COVID-19 School Closures
Kali and Joshua Fontanilla were California public school teachers for over 15 years before deciding to resign in 2021. The couple was frustrated with the way their school handled COVID-19 closures and believed students were being indoctrinated rather than educated.
The Fontanillas did not agree with the decision to close schools for months during the pandemic. They felt it was extremely disruptive to students’ learning and development.
Objections to Black Lives Matter’s “Anti-Police Stance”
Kali and Joshua felt that their local public school adopted an “anti-police stance” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In their view, the movement and its supporters promoted a “false and hateful” narrative.
The couple believed the movement wrongly accused all police officers of racism and brutality. According to Kali and Joshua, the Black Lives Matter movement portrayed police officers as systematically racist and violent towards Black Americans.
Concerns Over Teaching “Harmful Ideas” About History and Race
According to the couple, the public school they taught at focused on teaching harmful ideas about history and race. They believed the school taught the theory that America was systemically racist, which they saw as false.
Kali and Joshua wanted to expose what they viewed as propaganda in the public school system and offer an alternative for families. They moved to Florida to start their Christian school in 2021, which has since grown to 200 students.
Anxiety Fuels New Laws Restricting Lessons on Sex, Race, and Gender
Anxiety among conservative parents has fueled new laws that restrict how teachers can discuss issues related to sex, race, and gender in schools. By April 2022, laws influenced nearly half of all students in the U.S.
The spread of these new laws and alternative schools shows the deepening divides over how to teach children about important issues in society.
Couple Launches Christian Online School as Alternative
The couple, ages 41 and 42, believed the school system had become more focused on indoctrinating students with “woke lies” and left-leaning values rather than providing them with a proper education. In 2021, the Fontanillas moved to Florida to establish their own K-12 Christian online school as an alternative for like-minded families.
Their school has since grown to nearly 200 students, boosted in large part by Kali Fontanilla’s frequent appearances on conservative media outlets like Fox News and her popular Instagram account, which has over 333,000 followers.
School Grows to Nearly 200 Students With Conservative Media Exposure
Kali and Joshua’s online Christian school has grown substantially since its founding in 2021. Through appearances on conservative media outlets and Kali’s popular Instagram account, the school now educates nearly 200 students.
Kali has become a regular guest on Fox News, discussing her views on “woke lies” and “indoctrination” in public schools. These appearances, along with her Instagram account with over 333,000 followers, have raised the profile of the couple’s school.
Criticism and Controversy
The Exodus Institute and Kali’s messaging have been controversial. Critics argue she is pushing a conservative agenda and indoctrinating students.
However, supporters see the school as an alternative to liberal bias in education. The polarizing nature of the debate reflects the deep divisions surrounding education in America.
Online Critics Call Out “One-Sided” Education
Not all see the Fontanillas’ school in a positive light. Some online critics argue Kali is indoctrinating students with an overly conservative slant. One commenter called her Instagram content “a racist, one-sided, whitewashed opinion.”
Another said no one was “impressed by the trash” Kali was “trying to sell.” While the school has found an eager audience, it faces opposition from those concerned it promotes ideological propaganda over balanced education.
Alternative for Families Rejecting Public School Curricula
Exodus Institute is not the only alternative for dissatisfied families. Microschools, learning pods, and other private programs gained popularity during the pandemic.
Some offer in-person or online classes with curricula focused on “traditional” subjects like reading, writing, and math. Others promote religious values or specific ideological viewpoints.
California Mandates Ethnic Studies Courses
In 2021, Governor Newsom signed a law requiring California high school students to take an ethnic studies class to graduate.
The law aimed to highlight groups traditionally marginalized in education, like Latinos, Blacks, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. While the law didn’t take effect until 2030, schools began offering courses in 2025.
Teachers Research Curriculum and Find Left-Leaning Bias
Kali, an English teacher in Salinas, did research on the ethnic studies lesson plans within the school’s internal systems. She found evidence that certain colleagues were introducing critical race theory to students.
Critical race theory is a controversial academic framework asserting that racism is embedded in American institutions. Kali encountered the theory in graduate school and was disgusted by it.
School District Defends Ethnic Studies Course Despite Criticism
The Salinas Union High School District, has defended its new ethnic studies curriculum despite criticism from some teachers.
The district implemented the mandated course for the 2025-2026 school year. Kali discovered that certain colleagues were introducing critical race theory in their ethnic studies classes.
Joshua Notes 12 of 19 “American Dream” Authors Are Leftists
According to the Washington Post, Joshua concluded that at least 12 of the 19 authors featured were known as left-leaning.
Joshua told the Washington Post that authors like Langston Hughes, known for his socialist poetry, and Studs Terkel, a prominent leftist historian, showed a liberal bias.
District Officials Disagree With Joshua
District officials disagreed with Joshua’s characterization of the ethnic studies course. They said student feedback on the new curriculum was “overwhelmingly positive.”
Officials also denied promoting any political ideology, saying the course aimed to recognize underrepresented groups.
A Liberal Culture
Taken together, the daily announcements, author choices, and teaching of critical race theory led Kali, Joshua, and like-minded teachers to perceive a liberal bias in the school culture.
For some, the perceived values being promoted contradicted their own beliefs and values. The resulting dissonance and discomfort ultimately led several teachers to quit their jobs at the school.
Gay-Straight Alliance Given Preferential Treatment
The Gay-Straight Alliance club at the high school received preferential treatment, according to some teachers. Announcements promoting the club’s meetings were made over the PA system, while other non-academic clubs did not receive the same treatment.
Joshua noticed this discrepancy and felt it showed bias within the school. As a teacher, he believed all non-academic clubs should be treated equally and given the same opportunities to promote their events.
Is Woke Culture Taking Over California Classrooms?
Many California teachers are concerned that “woke” ideologies are making their way into K-12 classrooms.
According to reports, some teachers claim they have evidence that critical race theory, a theoretical framework that sees racism as systemic in U.S. institutions, is being introduced to students.
Teachers Research Curriculum and Raise Concerns
Kali and Joshua were not alone in their concerns. A few teachers even quit their jobs rather than promote ideas they believed were factually inaccurate or harmful.
Supporters argue the new curriculum promotes inclusion and helps students gain a more accurate understanding of history. However, critics counter that it pushes a one-sided ideological agenda and sows racial division.
Impact on Students and Education Still Unclear
While Governor Newsom and proponents of the ethnic studies legislation believe these courses will have a positive impact on students, the effects remain to be seen.
While the district reported positive feedback from students who have taken the classes so far, the effects over the long term remain unknown.
A Continued Debate Around Childhood Education
The debate around what and how to teach students, particularly on issues of race, gender, and history, shows no signs of resolution. Both sides are convinced the other is dangerously misguided.
The Fontanillas offer one alternative for those who reject the prevailing views in public schools. Yet, in such a polarized climate, it seems unlikely either side will back down from their staunch positions anytime soon.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings