Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Director of Equity and Community Engagement Leah Dozier Walker (pictured above) will moderate a Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) event on equity. Walker also advocates other issues including Black Lives Matter, anti-racism, critical race theory, and social justice.
Earlier this year, Virginia Inspector General Michael Westfall accused Walker of appropriating government resources to set up her private consulting business. Westfall noted in his report that Walker had accumulated nearly 100 hours of unexplained absences the previous year, as well as offered consulting services that were almost the same as her state duties.
“[I]n reviewing both websites, it is clear that Ms. Dozier Walker has posted a number of pictures, documents and at least one video that [were] created by VDOE. Some photos show Ms. Dozier Walker at various conferences while working in an official capacity for VDOE.”
Walker denied the allegations, though the report also mentioned her personal business tweets made during government office hours.
In one of her posts, Walker shared a picture condemning “white allies” for their inherent “privilege” and “bias.”
“I IMPLORE YOU TO READ MY STORY, KNOWING YOUR TENDENCY TO SKIP, NEGATE, AND GLOSS OVER THE HUMILIATION, SUFFERING, AND DISADVANTAGE YOUR PRIVILEGE HAS SOWED,” read the picture. “SEE ME, TO CHALLENGE OPPRESSION. KNOW ME, TO OWN YOUR BIAS. LOVE ME, TO BE ANTI RACIST. FREE. ME. SINCERELY, YOUR ANGRY BLACK WOMAN.”
In her blogs, Walker has attributed racism as a “White people’s problem” that only affects Black people.
VDOE code of ethics emphasizes nondiscrimination.
“Promote policies and programs in accordance with the department’s Statement of NonDiscrimination and the commonwealth’s EEO policy, supporting the rights and recognizing the needs of all citizens regardless of race, sex, age, religion, creed, county of origin, or disability.”
The code also addresses potential conflicts of interest, including personal business ventures using government resources.
“[Employees must] avoid the appearance of conflict of interest by not engaging in activities that may be inconsistent with the State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act or the Public Procurement Act.”
Walker will be joined in the virtual event with the local police and sheriff’s department. Together, they will discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which emphasizes community policing for student-officer interactions.
Walker is scheduled to moderate and speak at the virtual event on Thursday, November 12th at 6:30 pm EST.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Leah Dozier Walker” by Leah Dozier Walker.
