Prince William Reporter

Michelle Staton, a parent and voter in Northern Virginia, expressed her disappointment in the politicization of schools and the push for a "heavy LGBTQ+ agenda" in an interview about who she intends to support in Virginia local elections. Staton specifically mentioned her excitement to support Jeanine Lawson, Geary Higgins, and Tumay Harding in the upcoming elections.

Staton said that she is also excited to support Geary Higgins and Tumay Harding in Loudon County. Geary Higgins is the Republican nominee for the House of Delegates in District 30. Higgins has experience serving on the Loudon County School Board and Board of Supervisors. Tumay Harding is running for Ashburn Supervisor. Harding is based in Loudon County, and according to her campaign website, she has made the news, speaking out against the "outrageous woke agenda embraced by Loudoun County Public Schools."

Staton expressed her dissatisfaction with the Loudoun County public schools, citing concerns about transgender policies and the presence of explicit material in school libraries. "They allow boys into the girls’ bathrooms and showers and have even covered up a rape in Loudoun County schools because they thought it would reflect badly on the transgender community," Staton said. "Under the guise of 'inclusion,' school libraries now have pornographic books graphically describing sex acts for children to read." Staton also mentioned the existence of a private Facebook group of school board members who expressed their dislike for parents who objected to certain books in the library. Due to these concerns, Staton made the decision to homeschool her four children and no longer trusts any government-run schools.

The alleged sexual assault that Staton referenced occurred in a Loudoun County school in May 2021. The victim's family is currently suing the school system, accusing them of failing to fully investigate the incident and engaging in a cover-up. The family claims that the school's policies, which allow transgender students to use bathrooms according to their preferred gender identity, contributed to the assault. The Loudoun County grand jury found that a school supervisor concealed the truth about the incident from the public and accused authorities of overlooking warning signs that could have prevented the assault.

Staton urged fellow Virginians to participate in local elections and research candidates who prioritize the interests of parents and families.

"Public schools are no longer an option for our family because they are not safe," Staton said. "If we sit on the sidelines during elections, then we can’t be surprised when our country and communities fall apart."