Fairfax Schools Deny Teacher’s Abortion Allegations Amid Ongoing Investigation

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (AP) — Fairfax County Public Schools is rejecting claims made by a teacher alleging that a social worker facilitated student abortions without parents’ knowledge. The school system stated its investigation concluded that the teacher fabricated the claims.

Mainstream media outlets reported the teacher from Centreville High School publicized these allegations in August, asserting that a social worker had assisted two underage students in obtaining abortions in 2021.

According to the district’s investigation, the teacher may have coerced students into backing her accusations, portraying a find-and-demand scenario against the social worker and former principal Chad Lehman, who is now on administrative leave. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has initiated a state police investigation regarding the matter.

Attorney Sean Royall, representing the school district, said in a statement that evidence suggests the teacher attempted to create evidence for her claims against the social worker. “What is clear is that Mrs. Perez’s own actions cast serious doubt on the credibility of the statement and the sincerity of her claims as a whole,” he stated.

U.S. Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy and the Department of Education have requested further details from the school regarding the claims. The district’s correspondence noted that the initial findings suggest the allegations are likely false.

Americans United for Life, which is representing the teacher, called the district’s investigation a “thin coating of whitewash” and mentioned they are preparing their own response to federal inquiries.

Lehman, who reportedly investigated the teacher’s earlier complaints in 2022, found those allegations lacked factual support, according to the school district’s letters. The teacher had documented complaints against her for unprofessional conduct previously due to her handling of a student’s pregnancy test.

According to the investigation, the teacher suggested that the social worker was responsible for orchestrating and paying for these abortions, claims which have since been scrutinized by handwriting analysis; the teacher may have even produced false evidence.

As the investigation continues, both the social worker and Lehman remain on paid leave while the teacher maintains her original allegations