Two decades ago, Dover showed how to win elections in conservative towns. They're still fighting

Lauri Lebo is an advocacy coordinator and organizer for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. As a reporter, she covered the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial and wrote a book about her coverage, The Devil in Dover. She is a recipient of NCSE’s Friend of Darwin award in 2026. We asked her to write a few paragraphs linking to her recent article in the Reviews of the National Center for Science Education. – Matt Young

It’s been 21 years since the First Amendment test case of Kitzmiller v. Dover, in which U.S. District Court judge John E. Jones III ruled that “intelligent design,” a form of revamped creationism, is unconstitutional to teach in the public schools.

While the parents who sued and science teachers celebrated, the school board members and their legal team had little to say. Looking back, most people involved in the trial said that few minds were changed. Many were just glad the national spotlight was no longer shining on Dover.

But roots run deep in south-central Pennsylvania, and history repeats itself. Some on the religious right quietly started preparing for the next opportunity.

I still get asked about comparisons between Kitzmiller v. Dover and attacks today on our public schools. Particularly, what did we learn about defeating school boards pushing a religious agenda? In this article in the Reviews of the National Center for Science Education, I delve into what worked then and what works today.