Without wanting to put words in her mouth, I assume that Edwards is being cautious of coercing potentially sheep - like minds with views that she recognizes as originating from her own values with perceived authority. (thewinnower.com)
The phrase «Uncle Tom» has also become an epithet for a person who is slavish and excessively subservient to perceived authority figures, particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people; or any person perceived to be a participant in the oppression of their own group. (politics.stackexchange.com)
To improve education in America, the way education stakeholders and the public at large perceive authority and influence should change, recognizing that teachers have content and pedagogical expertise that administrators often don't. (teacherleaderstandards.org)