Former LCPS Superintendent Found Guilty In Retaliation Case

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Former Loudoun County Public Schools superintendent Scott Ziegler was found guilty of one count of retaliatory firing of a school teacher, a jury announced.

Ziegler was accused of firing a special education teacher who expressed concerns about being inappropriately touched by a student, court records showed.

Ziegler's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2024. He could face up to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine, based on Virginia's guidelines.

The teacher, Erin Brooks, was awarded the Special Education Advisory Committee Excellence Award in 2021 for her work in the classroom, her LinkedIn profile says. Her contract was not renewed in 2022 after coming forward by inappropriate touching by a student, according to FOX 5.

"Justice has finally been served in Loudoun County," Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a news release. "Nearly two years ago, Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun County School Board were thrown into the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons."

In 2021, Loudoun County Public Schools attracted national attention for its handling of sexual assault cases within schools. Ziegler, who was superintendent at the time, was eventually fired by the school board.

Read more: Loudoun School Sexual Assaults: Grand Jury Releases Report

"One of the casualties of their neglect and mismanagement led to the retaliatory firing of a dedicated and caring school teacher," Miyares said. "Today, my office brought a measure of justice for Erin Brooks. The Office of the Attorney General will always be a voice for victims, and we’re grateful for the jury’s verdict."

Read more:

• LCPS Employees Indicted By Grand Jury
• Teen Sentenced For 2 Sexual Assaults At Loudoun County High Schools: Report
• Loudoun Teen Pleads No Contest To 2nd Sexual Assault
• Loudoun Teen Found Guilty Of Assaulting Girl In Bathroom
• Sentence Changed For Teen Convicted In Loudoun Sexual Assaults

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center can provide information about reporting and coping with sexual abuse. Their website also features training materials and tips to prevent sexual abuse. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network operates a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.