Sorry, I don't have any breakthrough ideas on this one.

I've been fortunate enough to work at a school where we've had reptile-tolerant principals. They understood that exposure to living animals was a powerful teaching tool. Just so long as I was responsible and discreet with the animals and kept them in my classroom everything was cool.

Since your principal has given you a foot in the door with just lizards, you might try a small colony of "cute" lizards like leopard geckos or crested geckos. As word gets around among staff, students, and community about how harmless and gentle these reptiles are perhaps your principal will lighten up. As the colony expands, perhaps other teachers will want these cuties in their class (well, maybe not)

Our district switches principals around every few years. Perhaps you'll just have to wait for a change in leadership.

Good luck!

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