Conn. Board Member in Cat Ears: Pay Black Teachers More Because It’s an ‘Extra Burden’

A Connecticut school board member is facing backlash after video surfaced of her arguing that Black teachers should be paid more than their white colleagues because it’s an “extra burden” to work while Black.

The footage, shared this week by the conservative account Libs of TikTok, shows West Hartford Board of Education Vice Chair LaToya Yagaloff, a Democrat, speaking during a public meeting. Yagaloff, who appeared in the video wearing cat ears, made the case that financial incentives are needed to attract greater diversity among district staff.

“Are there financial incentives for black and brown people to work here? It’s an extra burden, quite frankly, to be a black and brown teacher and administrator in the district, so I think we need to start thinking about that financially if we’re not already,” Yagaloff said in the clip.

The meeting appears to have taken place in December but only went viral this week after being posted by Libs of TikTok, which has a history of spotlighting controversial statements by public officials.

Yagaloff was appointed to the West Hartford board in 2023 and later elected to a full term. Her official biography on the West Hartford Public Schools website describes her as a “passionate educator, equity leader, and community advocate” who works as a statewide Restorative Justice facilitator and trainer.

Her background includes roles as a crossing guard, tutor, teacher, administrator, and policymaker, as well as service as a Neighborhood Commissioner in San Jose, California, and a California State Delegate. She also founded YouthHype, an organization focused on social justice initiatives for marginalized youth.

The proposal to tie teacher pay to race has drawn sharp criticism from those who argue it violates principles of equal treatment and equal pay for equal work. Critics say such a policy would amount to race-based discrimination, regardless of the stated intent to boost diversity.

It remains unclear whether the board has taken any formal action on Yagaloff’s suggestion. The West Hartford Public Schools district has not publicly commented on the video.

Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/video-connecticut-board-education-member-wearing-cat-ears/