WASHINGTON — The Fairfax County teacher who was suspended last week after an accusation that he pulled off a student’s hijab will return to work Monday.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Scott Brabrand said that the teacher at Lake Braddock Secondary School, in Burke, “made a mistake” in the incident.
A student described in a series of tweets that the teacher pulled off her hijab, then said “Oh, your hair is so pretty.” The school system suspended him and announced that they would investigate.
Brabrand said that “while there does not appear to be any intent to act maliciously, nor to engage in any disrespect or infringement on religious beliefs, the teacher did violate FCPS policies and practices. The teacher has been disciplined, was placed on leave, and will return to the classroom following the Thanksgiving break.”
Brabrand called the teacher, whose name was never released, “a long-serving and well-respected teacher.” A group of Lake Braddock students staged a demonstration in support of the teacher on Friday, and the student who accused him described him as “a teacher I appreciated and valued.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement Tuesday that the student had been cyber-bullied since making her accusation.
Brabrand said in his letter, “I also want to reinforce the message Principal [Dave] Thomas shared on Friday, that we expect a welcoming and safe environment for all students. Bullying and cyberbullying are violations of the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities regulation and the rules of conduct apply off school property and outside school hours if the conduct is detrimental to the school or affects school discipline. We will take any violations seriously.”
