An American Pastoral

The story

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a storm is brewing over the soul of its public schools. What begins as a debate over library books quickly reveals a deeper battle — one over religion, democracy, and the future of American education. Set in Elizabethtown, nestled in the heart of Lancaster County, An American Pastoral follows a high-stakes local school board race as it becomes a flashpoint for a national culture war. With far-right activists pushing a theocratic agenda and longtime public servants stepping down under threat, the town’s once-routine school board meetings erupt into scenes of conflict and division. This gripping documentary captures the voices of citizens fighting to protect their schools—and the fragile promise of secular democracy — one ballot at a time.

Cast

J James C. EmerySelf K Kristy MooreSelf T Tina M. WilsonSelf K Kelly FuddySelf T Terry L. SeidersSelf J James L. ReadSelf D Danielle D. LindemuthSelf S Stephen T. LindemuthSelf K Karen R. NellSelf C Craig M. HummerSelf M Michael D. MartinSelf D Don LambSelf

See more cast

A Amy KarrSelf M Menno RigglemanSelf C Caroline LalvaniSelf N Naomi KraenbringSelf J Jennifer ButlerSelf M Michele BachmannSelf G Glenn BeckSelf T Tom JonesSelf A Alex NewmanSelf N Nancy SchulzeSelf T Travis TymoczkoSelf S Sue SmithSelf J Joyce HottensteinSelf