My daughter was physically ill on Tuesday after she witnessed Nazi salutes on the inaugural stage, and executive orders signed to create chaos and harm, and upend the rule of law.
We are in unprecedented times where violent criminals are pardoned, kindness is out of fashion, and the Constitution is undermined with the swipe of the Presidential pen. Where science and truth are rewritten by ideologues, and ICE is unleashed on schools, hospitals, and places of worship, terrifying entire communities. Civil rights and public education are under attack.
Nevertheless, we must do the work. Educator and former Congresswoman Katie Porter says not to let the chaos and fear distract us. Instead, we must:
Stay focused on the real people harmed by these policies and work to mitigate that harm.
Stand up to bullying--Be an upstander, not a bystander.
Work cooperatively as possible, but NEVER compromise values, or civil rights.
Speak truth to power.
FCPS must continue to offer safe, meaningful educational space for students, staff, and families by prioritizing kindness and patience, offering mental health support, and maintaining the Trust policy which protects immigrant students and Regulation 2603 which protects transgender students. You are the first line of defense for staff–protect them and provide resources, support, and pay they need to do their best by their students.
No matter what happens at the federal level, you were elected to do the work here, and you are empowered by the Virginia Constitution to support, protect, and educate our children regardless of race, religion, immigration status, disability, gender, or gender identity in FCPS.
Our world is being turned upside down, which is why we all must do the work of ensuring safety, equity, excellence, and opportunity in FCPS and beyond.
Vanessa Hall gave this speech in front of the FCPS School Board on January 23, 2025, which can be viewed here.
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