Virginia school district suspends teacher who blew whistle on minor’s abortion claim
Caroline MolloyA high school teacher in Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system who alleges that school staff members enabled a minor student’s abortion in 2021 has been placed on paid administrative leave while the school district continues its investigation into the claims.
Local ABC affiliate 7News reported that FCPS suspended Zenaida Perez, the teacher who says she brought the abortion allegations to Centreville High School administrators’ attention, over concerns that she “may have engaged in serious professional misconduct.” Among other claims, FCPS says that Perez disclosed confidential information related to FCPS and the students involved in the abortion allegations, falsified information, and withheld information during investigations.
According to 7News, Perez said that her suspension is “a way to retaliate against me for bringing this subject to light.”
As CatholicVote previously reported, claims that a social worker at Centreville High School procured and paid for two minor students’ abortions — only one of which allegedly occurred — surfaced and caught national media attention this past summer. According to reports, the social worker made both abortion appointments without notifying the girls’ parents, a violation of Virginia law.
Perez had been informed by one of the girls about the incident and says she raised concerns about it seven times since May 2022, but was brushed off by school administrators. The administrators also allegedly began retaliating against Perez by looking for excuses to fire her and pressuring her to resign.
7News reported that FCPS has said that recent findings from an external review — initiated by the district’s Division leadership — have “provided a clearer picture of the situation” that “indicate the allegations are likely untrue and raise serious concerns about the employee’s [Perez] own professional conduct.”
The outlet additionally reported that FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid affirmed the school district’s claim in a statement Oct. 17, saying, “Based on the interim findings, which are deeply concerning, these 2021 allegations are likely untrue. We have an obligation to protect our staff from wrongful and unjustified accusations.”
Lawyers for FCPS told Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who opened an inquiry into the incident, that Perez’s claims “lacked factual support” and therefore had not needed to be brought to the attention of FCPS’ senior leadership, according to 7News.
Even though FCPS calls her allegations false, Perez says she will not be silenced again, 7News reported.
“Everything I said is true,” Perez said, according to the outlet. “I am strong and determined to bring the truth to light. I used to be terrified. In 2022 – 2023, I was looking for ways to bring this to light. I have exposed them seven times throughout these years, but now I’m fully determined to keep up fighting because the truth has to come out, and honesty and truthfulness will prevail.”
