government
Parents call for Fort Worth arts school chair to resign after now-deleted post causes stir
By David Moreno at Fort Worth Report
· July 9, 2026
· 5 min read
Parents at the Fort Worth -based Texas Center for Arts + Academics charter schools are calling for board chair Cheryl Bean to step down after a since-deleted post they viewed as offensive and racially motivated appeared on her political campaign Facebook account. Bean is the GOP nominee for a key Tex
Key takeaway On July 1, Bean posted an AI-generated image of WNBA player Sophie Cunningham on a boat and pointing forward while her Indiana Fever teammates row — a visual modeled after the historic “Washington Crossing the Delaware” painting.
Why this matters in The Fort Worth
The controversy surrounding Cheryl Bean's social media post has significant implications for the Fort Worth community, particularly in the context of the city's diverse student population. As the board chair of the Texas Center for Arts + Academics, Bean's actions are under scrutiny, and the online petition calling for her resignation or removal from the board reflects the concerns of parents who value inclusivity and respect. The fact that the charter schools governed by the center, including the Texas School of the Arts and Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, serve students from various backgrounds, makes it crucial for leaders to uphold the principles of nondiscrimination and equality outlined in the student handbooks. The upcoming August 24 board meeting will be closely watched to see how the directors respond to the petition and whether they will adopt standards of conduct for public communication and social media activity, which could set a precedent for other local educational institutions.
About this story
Original reporting by Fort Worth Report . The Fort Worth surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Fort Worth Report . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: Fort Worth Report ·
Reading time: 5 min
Get more The Fort Worth stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering government and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Parents at the Fort Worth-based Texas Center for Arts + Academics charter schools are calling for board chair Cheryl Bean to step down after a since-deleted post they viewed as offensive and racially motivated appeared on her political campaign Facebook account. Bean is the GOP nominee for a key Tex
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by Fort Worth Report and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by David Moreno at Fort Worth Report. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Fort Worth, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More government →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter