Yadkin Schools counselor resigns following Trump comments

Words have power, as a former Yadkin County Schools counselor can attest this week.

Comments she made on social media drew all the wrong sorts of attention after being shared on TikTok and garnering millions of views.

Former Boonville Elementary School guidance counselor Amanda Brewer took to social media following the attempt on Donald Trump’s life at a weekend rally in Pennsylvania. Her comments were shared widely on social media including from people locally and across the nation and led to her resignation.

The statement from Boomer Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent of Yadkin County Schools, regarding the matter was brief.

“Yadkin County Schools is aware of comments recently posted on social media by former YCS staff member Amanda Brewer. After being made aware of the comments, YCS officials immediately opened an investigation to address the matter.

“YCS officials accepted a letter of resignation from Amanda Brewer, effective July 16,” the district’s statement said.

It is unknown whether Brewer’s social media was in a public or private setting, but she vented some raw emotions into the ether of cyberspace and her words drew strong criticism.

She wrote of feeling conflicted about the shooting at the Trump rally Saturday: “I’m currently sitting on the beach this afternoon, disturbed by the fact, sickened with myself, that I was disappointed the shooter missed when I saw the news.”

She continued, “I have allowed that horrible, horrible man to make me bitter enough to have such an experience. I was horrified when folks on social media posted they hoped he would die when he had COVID-19 in 2020. Have I become that cynical?”

“I clearly need to do some reflecting and some work.”

Brewer has since told other news outlets that she had “a very weak moment.”

With time and distance from the post, it may be easier for her now to look back on the post and see what the complaints of the school system of parents may be. “I expressed a thought. Could I have worded it a little better? Sure,” she said.

“The statement I was trying to make was that the climate of the past four years has pushed me to bitterness and that I recognized it,” said Brewer.

“I was disgusted by it, and I fully took into accountability that I need to do some work. It’s not the type of person I am. I don’t condone violence, ever.”

Parents in the Yadkin County Schools district took to social media themselves and posted the main number for the school district encouraging people to call and express themselves.

One area parent wrote, “This is someone who I was supposed to trust to stand in front of bullets for my child, but instead is wishing someone was hit by one. We have got to do better.”

The statement from Yadkin County Schools did acknowledge that Brewer has resigned her position as of Tuesday. Brewer stated, “I am now taking accountability. I called and resigned, and that’s all I can do.”