Beth Barts, a prominent left-wing member of the Loudoun County School Board announced her resignation from her position in a Facebook post Friday.
“Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Loudoun County School Board effective November 2, 2021,” Barts wrote on Facebook.
In March, Barts was at the center of the recall effort to remove six school board members, who were accused of being part of an anti-racist Facebook group that allegedly created lists of parents who opposed Critical Race Theory (CRT) or who called for the reopening of schools for in-person learning.
CRT holds that America is fundamentally racist, yet it teaches students to view every social interaction and person in terms of race. Its adherents pursue “antiracism” through the end of merit, objective truth and the adoption of race-based policies.
Loudoun County residents again called for Barts’ job in an August petition, which accused her of violating state and local policies by holding illegal meetings through email and on Facebook groups, exposing confidential information from closed school board sessions and using her personal social media account to discuss official business in private Facebook groups.
The recall efforts have been spearheaded by Loudoun County parents who opposed CRT and the district’s transgender policy that requires teachers to call students by their “chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence” and allows transgender students to participate in sports and use bathrooms that correspond to their chosen gender identity.
“This was not an easy decision or a decision made in haste,” Barts wrote. “After much thought and careful consideration, it is the right decision for me and my family.”
Barts said she is grateful for the opportunity to have represented Leesburg on the school board in a role where she “empowered students to achieve academic and personal success in supportive and most importantly inclusive school environments.”
She also said she “remained committed to doing what was best for all of Loudoun County Public School students and staff.”
Barts thanked her Leesburg constituents for putting their trust in her and said she is “absolutely certain a member of this wonderful community will step forward to be appointed and continue to move LCPS forward.”
Fight for Schools Executive Director Ian Prior said in a statement to the community that LCPS’ problems extend beyond Barts and acknowledged “This could not have been an easy decision for” her.
“We have made known our displeasure with her actions as a school board member over the past several months, but today she has done the right thing. Her former colleagues should take notice,” Prior said. “We will continue to shine a light on Loudoun County Public Schools and will keep fighting until we have a school board of common sense, non-partisan members and a superintendent who is accountable to parents and tells the truth.”
Read the full release below:
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Loudoun County School Board effective November 2, 2021.
This was not an easy decision or a decision made in haste. After much thought and careful consideration, it is the right decision for me and my family.
While serving as the Leesburg representative on the Loudoun County School Board, I was afforded many deeply rewarding opportunities for which I am truly appreciative. I am grateful to have had a role in empowering students to achieve academic and personal success in supportive and most importantly inclusive school environments. I am especially proud to have participated in helping steer the Loudoun County School System through the uncharted waters of educating students throughout a global pandemic. Though not an easy task, I remained committed to doing what was best for all of Loudoun County Public School students and staff.
Since taking office in 2020, I have personally responded to 10,518 emails, attended over one hundred in-person and virtual meetings and logged more phone calls with school personnel and constituents than I can count. I have remained dedicated throughout my tenure to providing the best service to the community that I could. While I look forward to a return to a simpler life of volunteer service, I will miss my office hours and the conversations I had with so many of you in our community. The emails and conversations allowed me to advocate for and facilitate solutions for our local Leesburg families. Thank you for putting your trust in me.
I would like to extend a special thank you to the thousands of Leesburg constituents and others, who have provided unyielding support to me during my School Board term. I am absolutely certain a member of this wonderful community will step forward to be appointed and continue to move LCPS forward. I wish my board colleagues all the best in the future.
Signing off with love,
Beth Barts See Less
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