In her emotional speech, Morris expressed her discomfort with the district’s approach, saying she could no longer support an organization promoting ideas that clash with her Christian beliefs. She felt unable to teach in the district despite its resources and wealth.
Morris also pointed out her disappointment with the lack of attention to concerned citizens. She criticized the restrictive rules for public comments at board meetings and expressed frustration over emails from the superintendent discouraging different opinions and pressuring staff to report colleagues who criticize the school board’s policies.
She ended her resignation speech by telling the school board that she was quitting because of their policies and training, and her role in supporting what she believes are harmful agendas. Morris encouraged parents and staff to consider private schools as an alternative.
The teacher shared her experiences with equity training, where she was told that ‘white, Christian, able-bodied females’ hold power in the school system and that this needed to change. Morris said she could no longer be part of a system that imposes political agendas on vulnerable children.
Loudoun County didn’t comment on Morris’s resignation, but the district has been in debates over teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools. CRT has caused heated discussions, with some calling it divisive and others saying it’s important for understanding America’s racial history.
The school board has also faced controversies, such as suspending PE teacher Byron Tanner Cross for refusing to use students’ preferred pronouns, a decision later reversed by a court. The board plans to appeal. Recently, the board also debated letting transgender children use facilities matching their gender identity, a decision postponed after long public comments.
In short, Morris’s resignation highlights ongoing debates over CRT and other issues in education, showing the challenges of balancing different perspectives and beliefs in public schools.
