Former Elementary School Assistant Principal Sues Albemarle County School Board after Quitting Due to Alleged Racially Hostile Work Environment

A former Albemarle County elementary school assistant principal is suing the school board, claiming that a racially hostile work environment forced her to quit her job in 2021. Emily Mais’ lawsuit describes an escalating series of conflicts related to anti-racism trainings, including the book Courageous Conversations About Race, which Governor Glenn Youngkin’s education administration has identified as an example of Critical Race Theory.

“The curriculum sets up a classic Catch-22, in which a white person’s objections to the content of the curriculum are simply evidence that he or she is a racist who needs further training on the curriculum,” the complaint states. “Unfortunately for her, Ms. Mais was caught in that Catch-22. When Ms. Mais complained about the curriculum and protested reverse racism, she was branded a racist, severely and pervasively harassed, relentlessly humiliated, and ultimately compelled to resign from a job that she loved to preserve her mental health.”

The complaint includes concerns about statements and behavior by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bernard Hairston, who oversaw the district’s anti-racism policy, and teacher’s aide Sheila Avery, who represented a group of black employees.

Some of the statements in the complaint include: “Dr. Hairston compares white parents who express concern about the Division’s “anti-racism” policy to rapist slave owners,” and “Ms. Avery verbally abuses Ms. Mais in the final training session, the complaint claims.”… (Excerpt from the Virginia Star)