Laura Morris, a former fifth-grade teacher at Lucketts Elementary School in Leesburg, Virginia, left her position due to her refusal to teach critical race theory (CRT).
During a Loudoun County School Board meeting, Morris emotionally expressed her opposition to the board’s “highly-politicized agendas” and resigned. She criticized the equity training and curriculum changes related to CRT, which explores how racism is embedded in societal structures. Morris explained, “I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents – the children.” She shared that her Christian beliefs clashed with the district’s ideologies. She also raised concerns about her personal life being affected by the school district’s political agenda. Morris received emails cautioning against dissenting opinions even in her personal life. Frustrated by the lack of consideration for concerned citizens and what she perceived as the district’s bias against certain demographics, Morris chose to resign. In her passionate speech, Morris encouraged parents and staff to explore alternative educational options.