Lafayette School Corp. board member Chuck Hockema resigned on Jan. 30, 2024, just over a year after winning election on a platform promising to "preserve traditional values and beliefs." The board announced his departure amid community backlash over his controversial statements about classroom ideology.

During his 2022 campaign, Hockema explicitly opposed what he called the "gay agenda" and "woke ideology" in schools. He previously stated he would not allow gay teachers to promote their feelings or ideology to other employees, comments that drew significant pushback from community members and parents.

Despite earlier refusing to quit when criticized, Hockema's resignation cites personal health issues. The school district will now search for a replacement to complete his term, which officially concludes on Dec. 31, 2024, leaving the board to navigate ongoing debates about educational values and inclusion policies.