Dr. Scott Ziegler

Former Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Ziegler

The Loudoun County School Board voted unanimously during a closed session Tuesday night to fire Superintendent Scott Ziegler, effective immediately, one day after a special grand jury report criticized the school system’s response to two in-school sexual assaults by the same student in 2021.

Wayde Byard, a spokesman for the school system, confirmed the results of the vote, which came after a two-hour meeting behind closed doors.

At the same time the School Board was considering the report from the special grand jury that had been empaneled by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall called for Ziegler’s termination during a regular supervisors meeting.

“Let me say this as clearly as possible: Dr. Ziegler needs to be fired,” Randall said. “I’m saying to my colleagues on the School Board, ‘Fire the superintendent.”

The special grand jury report said the school system “failed at every juncture” and that administrators missed multiple chances to prevent a second assault from happening.

The grand jury issued no indictments in its report, which was unsealed Monday, and said there was no “coordinated cover-up” between the school system and members of the school board. Miyares told WTOP the grand jury is still sitting and “is considering all options.”

Randall said Ziegler, who was interim superintendent at the time, bears responsibilities for both his actions and inaction.

“We had a young woman violently raped, and another one assaulted,” Randall said. “This was, for all intents and purposes, on his part, a cover-up.”

Randall said he believes the two victims will continue to feel the effects of the attacks later in their lives.

“As these young ladies receive therapy that they will probably need for years, somebody should be covering their costs for them,” said Randall, who is by profession a mental health therapist, with a focus on substance dependence.

The special grand jury’s report said “adherence to operating in silos” by school administrators and “a breakdown of communication” that included the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Court Services Unit and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, led to the second assault in October 2021 at Broad Run High School. It happened after multiple people, including the assailant’s own mother and grandmother, warned law enforcement about the then 15-year-old boy.

Randall focused on the victims: “What happened to them is a tragedy. They were failed at multiple levels, and if it can happen to them, it can happen to other people as well.”

According to a source familiar with the firing, because he was terminated without cause, Ziegler’s contract dictates he will be paid his $323,000 annual salary and compensation for the next year, in monthly installments. His compensation includes a $12,000 annual vehicle allowance, health insurance and retirement benefits.

As of Wednesday morning, Ziegler and the School Board have not commented on the firing.

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(6) comments

Lynne June

It appears that he publicly lied about his knowledge of the incidents. He should have done the honorable thing and been truthful to parents. His desire to maintain his position and his career trumped his obligation to protect students and be honest with parents.He belongs nowhere near an organization entrusted to protect the welfare of the students.

WhereAre TheyNow

Shouldn't there be a clause in the contract for like depraved indifference which nullifies his pay?

Fix Prince William

So long! He'll get a 1/4 million job somewhere else. Yes, the Board should also be fired. We talk about top-heavy corporations, colleges, etc., what about these central offices for public schools?

Brad London

Everyone on the school board should be fired as well.

Cornelius Papadoupolos

They should all fire themselves. Everyone should put on their grown-up pants and hold themselves accountable to the children and their parents that they failed and deceived - causing another child to be raped. But no, instead of being embarrassed, they will just start pointing fingers at one another and skapegoating. Be prepared to see more of this circular firing squad activity in the coming days.

Dick Grayson

So true, but to the Superintendent, I’d like to say GTFO loser

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