West Nova News

Loudoun County Public Schools has created an equity team as part of its ongoing effort to combat what administration officials term “systemic racism” in the district.

Superintendent Eric Williams, in a June 1 message to the LCPS community, said the district rejects racism and racist violence, and will oppose discrimination, hatred, oppression and additional violence.

“Our commitment to doing so is grounded in our action-oriented equity perspective,” Williams said. “As a community, our condemnation of racist behavior and language is necessary and we must do more. As individuals I hope you will join me in peaceful anti-racism, taking actions that oppose racism as well as systemic and structural inequities.”

Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Officer Wayde Byard

He called on parents to talk with their children “about the history and persistence of racism and racialized violence in America and locally. I ask LCPS staff to join me in engaging in courageous, even difficult, conversations with colleagues who show up to work each day trying to give their best to our students and families, while also perhaps struggling with direct or indirect racism,” he said.

Williams, who has led the district since 2014, is departing. He was named superintendent at the Clear Creek Independent School District in suburban Houston. No start date has been announced, and there has been some opposition expressed in Clear Creek about his selection, in part because of racial-oriented programming at the Virginia school district.

However, he is moving forward on this matter in his final days at LCPS. An equity overview has been presented to students, staff and the community. The package includes an apology to the Black community for past wrongs.

“We, the Loudoun County school board, the administration of Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors sincerely apologize for the operation of segregated schools in Loudoun County and for the negative impact, damage and disadvantages to Black students and families that were caused by decisions made by the Loudoun County school board, LCPS administration, and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors,” the apology states. “More specifically, the additional effort required and resources provided by the Black community to obtain an equal education created hardships to which other community members were not subjected. Black people were denied rights and equal treatment.”

Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Officer Wayde Byard told West Nova News this is part of an effort to be more inclusive.

“The school equity team works to ensure that instructional practices meet the needs of each student, especially students who have been traditionally marginalized and underserved,” Byard said. “This includes supporting our culturally responsive framework to ensure that school is a welcoming, identity-affirming learning environment for every learner. The equity team also ensures that the social emotional needs of students are met by collaborating with members of the unified mental health team (UMHT) to provide appropriate supports to students, such as counseling, restorative circles or conferences, introduction to positive peers, professional learning for staff and other supportive structures.”

He said staff members who hold different views will be respected.

“Our culturally responsive framework affirms diverse perspectives and acknowledges individual viewpoints,” Byard said.

Feedback from parents has shown a variety of responses. 

“Some parents have expressed appreciation for this information becoming part of the LCPS curricula, some have asked questions and some have expressed concerns about the purpose of this learning content,” he said. “LCPS considers all feedback received from parents of students in our schools. Through feedback to teachers and principals, in communication with division administrators and through comments and submissions to the school board, we appreciate all the input we receive.”

Veteran educator Lottie Spurlock was named the district’s director of equity in July 2019. She declined to be interviewed for this article, with Byard speaking on behalf of the district.

“The creation of this position was a deliberate step in prioritizing the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout LCPS,” according to the district. “The director of equity leads cross-departmental efforts with division leaders to ensure equitable access, rigorous learning opportunities and measurable outcomes are in place for division-wide accountability. Additionally, the director of equity serves as liaison to the ad hoc committee on equity and the minority student achievement advisory committee [MSAAC] for LCPS.”

At a Nov. 14 equity team meeting, a two-page document titled "20 (Self-) Critical Things I Will Do to be a More Equitable Educator" was distributed and recommended practices such as learning to correctly pronounce a student's full given name, rejecting "the myth of color-blindness," acknowledging an educator's role of social activist and to "fight for the equity for all underrepresented or disenfranchised students."

Spurlock had been principal at both Cardinal Ridge and Rolling Ridge elementary schools and assistant principal of Guilford Elementary and A.P. Hill Elementary in the Petersburg City Public Schools. She was the site coordinator of the communities in school program at Chalkley Elementary School in the Chesterfield County Public Schools. Spurlock was a beginning teacher adviser for the Chesterfield County Schools and Virginia Commonwealth University.

She was a classroom teacher for 14 years, winning the Sallie Mae Award for outstanding first-year teachers at Chesterfield County Public Schools in 1993.