Inside Maine’s Most Notorious School Board: Kati McCormack Speaks Unfiltered
A 9-year Augusta School Board veteran reveals the fights over girls’ sports, secret gender policies, and why your kid’s school is pushing this.
“They said our neighborhood school would know my dog’s name. Now they’re hiding life-altering decisions from parents.”
— Kati McCormack, Augusta School Board (2016–2025)
In this explosive Muddy Waters interview, Kati McCormack — one of Maine’s longest-serving and most outspoken school board members — pulls back the curtain on the Augusta School District, now infamous for viral confrontations, Title IX betrayal, and policies that put ideology over safety.
What You’ll Learn:
How one activist (“Corn Pop”) turned board meetings into national news
Why 30% of Maine high schoolers now identify as LGBTQ+ — and what’s really driving it
The hidden cost of “inclusion”: biological boys in girls’ locker rooms, lost scholarships, and real risks
Cell phone bans in schools? Katie says the timing is no coincidence
How COVID woke parents up — and why the Maine DOE said math must wait until “social-emotional needs” are met
The $41 million budget for 2,200 kids — and where your tax dollars actually go
Why non-affirming parents are labeled “unsafe” under state guidance
Katie’s journey from PTO mom to conservative firebrand — and her message to anyone afraid to run for school board
Featured Clip: Corn Pop’s viral takedown of the board — “You feel uncomfortable? That’s how girls feel when a boy walks in.” -(https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1978849735911059836)
Call to Action:
Vote YES on 1, NO on 2
Sign the “Keep Girls’ Sports Female” petition at your polling place
Run for school board — your voice is needed now
Final Warning from Kati:
“If we don’t flip these seats in 2026, there’ll be nothing left of Maine to save.”
Listen now
https://muddywaters.us/podcast/ep-122-with-kati-mccormick-member-of-the-infamous-augusta-school-board/
Read the full transcript + timestamps below.
00:00 – Intro: Why Muddy Waters exists
01:20 – Augusta & Gardiner: Maine’s two most notorious school boards
03:40 – School board is *political* — even if ballots say “nonpartisan”
**KATIE McCORMACK’S STORY**
05:10 – Kati’s intro: 9 years on the board, ran unopposed… until now
06:30 – From Massachusetts baby to Waldo County mom of 5 boys + 1 granddaughter
08:45 – Why they moved to Augusta: “Everyone at Hussey School will know your dog’s name”
10:15 – PTO → Head Start policy → School board (2016)
12:00 – “I peeked behind the curtain… and didn’t like what I saw”
**THE AUGUSTA CHAOS**
14:30 – “Corn Pop” (Nick Blanchard) goes viral – *full clip played*
17:20 – Kati: “He’s passionate, not malicious. He brings the spotlight.”
19:00 – Title IX was a *promise to women* — now handed back to men
**TRANS POLICIES IN MAINE SCHOOLS**
21:00 – 30% of Maine HS kids identify as LGBTQ+ — social contagion?
23:15 – Gender Unicorn assemblies, hidden from parents
25:40 – Cell phone bans = “suspicious timing” to stop recordings
27:30 – Maine DOE: “Math comes *after* social-emotional learning”
29:50 – Parents labeled “unsafe” for non-affirmation
**GIRLS’ SPORTS & SAFETY**
32:00 – “Anatomy matters. Bones don’t lie.”
34:10 – Bad actors will exploit open doors — Loudoun County example
36:30 – “Empathy has been weaponized” — Ricky Gervais & Dave Chappelle nailed it
**COVID WAKE-UP CALL**
39:00 – Kitchen-table schooling exposed indoctrination
41:20 – Drug-affected kindergartners → pre-K push → more government
43:00 – Teachers & nurses = angels. But parents are #1 factor in success
**MONEY & PRIORITIES**
45:30 – $41M budget for 2,200 kids. $26M for 800 in RSU 24. *Where’s it going?*
47:40 – Maine: 9th in spending, ~40th in outcomes. Teachers underpaid.
49:50 – Special ed outplacements = $200K per student
**CALL TO ACTION**
52:00 – **VOTE YES on 1, NO on 2**
52:30 – **Sign “Keep Girls’ Sports Female” petition at polls**
53:15 – Augusta school board race: Clardy, Syracusa, Bashard
54:40 – “Run for office. Show up to meetings first. Bring *your* value.”
**HOPE & ACTIVATION**
56:00 – Charlie Kirk’s death *activated* Maine parents
57:30 – Kati’s Arizona pilgrimage: 60,000 strong, Maine represented
59:10 – “If we don’t win in 2026, I’m moving. Maine will be unaffordable.”
**FINAL ADVICE**
1:01:00 – To future candidates: “Find a battle buddy. Speak your truth.”
1:02:30 – “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist. Just care.”
1:03:45 – Outro: Next episode — Windham city council candidate