Hayfield Football Coach Fired

[Anonymous]

Will the post season ban be reinstated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will the post season ban be reinstated?

I guess the injunction against the ban is currently in legal lingo, without a decision on the horizon. But with any number of lawsuits possibly on the horizon, I don't think anyone knows what will become of that post season ban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Team white supremacy wins again.

I think everyone is just mad about the fraud bit.

If the county attorneys audit these families and find out that the families are driving to Fredericksburg M-F (which phones have GPSes so this is easy to get info for) and their kids chromebooks are even used once or their schoolology accounts accessed from out of county- we should be investigating. And heck, if the tuition of 19k: we should be investigating everyone who is suspected of this because it’s a lot of money our tax dollars are being wasted on.

FYI: 6 years ago, we had 2500 car tax evaders reported in that recouped $2.5 million in revenue. this is for 30 kids- at $1.2 million. With the use of chromebooks post covid and online learning: we should be tracking IP addresses on the regular and demanding tuition for people who do not comply. And then taking that money and paying teachers more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will the post season ban be reinstated?

I guess the injunction against the ban is currently in legal lingo, without a decision on the horizon. But with any number of lawsuits possibly on the horizon, I don't think anyone knows what will become of that post season ban.

I think the ban will be reinstated if Overton doesn’t resign. Personally, I would like to see Overton just banned from coaching in public schools if the rumors of what he did at Freedom high (same stuff) is true. He really should just be a private school coach- and I think he would be really good at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her emails, especially that first one, were so offensive.

This is so condescending

“ We also stand ready to work with the VHSL to improve their policies and processes on student-athlete eligibility. It is vital that we collaborate with everyone involved to ensure we are preparing for the evolution of the student-athlete experience that we are seeing in our country. As we navigate uncharted waters ahead in youth athletics, we must anchor our practices in clear rules and accountability systems that apply to all regardless of circumstances. Access to excellence and opportunity — that is the American dream.”

I tried reading this out loud to DH and gagged on this sound of my own voice reading this.

[Anonymous]

Who gave up the text messages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Withdrawing from the playoffs ultimately punishes the players who worked hard all season, rather than holding accountable the adults responsible for the issues. The players dedicated countless hours to improving their skills and representing their team, only to have their opportunity for success taken away due to decisions beyond their control. These young athletes simply followed the instructions given by the adults in charge, trusting in their leadership. It’s crucial that the consequences for this situation target the adults who caused the problems, not the players who are now unfairly bearing the brunt of the fallout.

This clears the way for Madison to the championship and the money spent by Hayfield parents goes down the drain because FCPS’ new collusion with the VHSL. The parents ought to sue FCPS now.

Therein lies the irony. Madison does it the right way. Recruits and practices all the way up to the lines of illegality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can Reid be put on admin leave like she does to her principals?

Yes, her boss is the School Board so the Chair would have the authority to put her on administrative leave the same way she has the authority to do it to the principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of young elementary schoolers on the other side of the county, it is very off putting to keep getting emails from the superintendent about this. The first email just drew attention to something I was not even aware was a problem. Can we get a superintendent that focuses on real issues? She should expect everyone in the chain of command to follow the rules, and when they don't, quickly fix it. Why is she bending over backward to cover for a football team?

y

I agree with you there are so many big issues that affect all students at every level and this is where the focus is?! I think FCPS is shadier than we know....thats why they are covering this up-house of cards.

As a parent of a 9th grader and a 5th grader, so children in both high school and elementary school, I don't think FCPS is that shady. I think this was mostly one school, one school administration going totally rogue. But Reid's immediate defense before she even knew what the issue is, was dumb. And every frantic long email makes it worse.

I disagree. I've noticed shady things at my kid's school which implemented SBG - a grading system that only a few schools use even now when FCPS states they are moving towards one consistent policy. There are enough threads on SBG already, but the point I want to make is that the principal of the school uses similar tactics to Reid. For example, at first SBG was widely talked about at the school by the principal with opportunities for questions/answers in a public format, then there was a honing of the message with no opportunities for questions in a public format. At the beginning of last year, instead of having workshops for parents explaining the new system as promised, the principal said anyone that had a question could come and line up and ask her one by one (same as Reid at Hayfield this year), then this year at back to school night, the principal said the grading system will be explained to your children by their teachers (why not explain it to us?).

I think the people at Gatehouse have put time into studying the best ways to get parents and students to not pay attention to things they want to do and train other people in admin positions to do the same. Reid's emails don't work, whether it's about the National Merit Scholar issue or Hayfield, the emails come across as phony to me. I'm surprised she hasn't attended some workshop somewhere to improve her persuasive skills. If she lasts, I predict she will get much better at shutting things down quick.

Other shady things: millions paid to Panorama Education for the SEL screener, awarding a sole-source contract for 455k to a company Reid had worked with previously in another job - the contract was for consulting work related to her strategic plan - equity and equal outcomes for every student without exception, all of the equity initiatives have been shady IMO.

I cannot stress how important this post is. It sums up how the upper level leadership drives policy without true input from teachers and parents. The Hayfield football issue is just the tip of iceberg in terms of the gaslighting and lack of transparency with FCPS.

Our high school is also trying to convince parents and teachers that Standards Based Grading is great, even though it is horrible. I’ve had the same experience where we had fake question/answer sessions where no questions were answered and then the principal and Reid said that parents could email or ask questions one on one. Now, two years in, it’s as if SBG is just going to happen regardless of data, input, or true discussion on the pros and cons. I have a feeling the high schools that are the guinea pigs will be used as case studies to show the rest of the county how wonderful SBG is. FCPS will say, “look, the GPAs went up!” Well, sure, because you lowered the standard.

Reid’s response to the football scandal shows that she is not interested in transparent communication or open investigations that might lead to outcomes outside of her preconceived notions of equity.

To make it worse, the majority of the school board backs her.

[Anonymous]

I want to know why the 6 coaches who signed the letter wanting to boycott the playoffs suddenly changed their tune after the closed door meeting with Reid (where journalists were told by FCPS security that they couldn’t stand on public property). Did she threaten their jobs?

[Anonymous]

Has Reid done anything worthy of keeping her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correction: Important Update Regarding Hayfield Hawks Football

November 25, 2024

Dear Hayfield Hawks Community,

Please see the message below that was shared with our football team community.

Dear Hayfield Hawks Football Team Parents,

In case you are not able to join us this evening, I am writing today to share news that I know will be disappointing to you and your student athlete. We have made the decision that our team will be withdrawing from the remainder of postseason play. This decision has not been made lightly, but is necessary to uphold the integrity of our athletic program.

Several text messages came to light last week that brought new concern to the initial investigation, have raised significant questions in my mind, and are not in alignment with our values and commitment when it comes to student-athlete transfers.

Your student athletes are talented and committed and that this decision is not a reflection on their hard work.

I shared with the students that this is really difficult, and I am feeling it too. This is hard, but I feel strongly that this is the right thing to do. I also shared that counseling is available for any student who would like to speak with someone for additional support.

Our Division leadership has developed a plan to ensure we are never in this situation again. As shared in an email yesterday, this will include “a comprehensive external, independent review of FCPS’ student-athlete transfer and eligibility practices across all sports and all high schools in the Division. There will also be a working group of FCPS coaches, principals, and key staff who are involved in the transfer process. This group will evaluate and review current practices related to transfer requests and verification of student residency. The external review findings will inform and guide the internal review.”

I know this is not the way that we wanted to end our season, but this is about more than a trophy or a state championship. Building character and sportsmanship is critical to education-based athletic programs.

I am proud of our team, and I am thankful to our Hayfield community for supporting our students in all their activities - from academics to fine arts to sports. We are stronger together and together, we will move forward in a direction that brings our focus and energy back to student success.

Thank you for being a part of our Hawk Family.

Sincerely,

Darin Thompson
Principal
Hayfield Secondary School

WHY is FVPS wasting taxpayer money on reviewing ALL sports and ALL high schools when this is clearly just a Hayfield/school board/Reid ethics issue?

They are wasting our taxpayer dollars

Do you have kids in HS sports? Travel sports? Are their coaches running sports programs outside the high school? There is a lot of money to be made off the backs of kid/teen sports. A kid from Florida was recruited to play a sport up here recently. I’m sure there are others.

Are you afraid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correction: Important Update Regarding Hayfield Hawks Football

November 25, 2024

Dear Hayfield Hawks Community,

Please see the message below that was shared with our football team community.

Dear Hayfield Hawks Football Team Parents,

In case you are not able to join us this evening, I am writing today to share news that I know will be disappointing to you and your student athlete. We have made the decision that our team will be withdrawing from the remainder of postseason play. This decision has not been made lightly, but is necessary to uphold the integrity of our athletic program.

Several text messages came to light last week that brought new concern to the initial investigation, have raised significant questions in my mind, and are not in alignment with our values and commitment when it comes to student-athlete transfers.

Your student athletes are talented and committed and that this decision is not a reflection on their hard work.

I shared with the students that this is really difficult, and I am feeling it too. This is hard, but I feel strongly that this is the right thing to do. I also shared that counseling is available for any student who would like to speak with someone for additional support.

Our Division leadership has developed a plan to ensure we are never in this situation again. As shared in an email yesterday, this will include “a comprehensive external, independent review of FCPS’ student-athlete transfer and eligibility practices across all sports and all high schools in the Division. There will also be a working group of FCPS coaches, principals, and key staff who are involved in the transfer process. This group will evaluate and review current practices related to transfer requests and verification of student residency. The external review findings will inform and guide the internal review.”

I know this is not the way that we wanted to end our season, but this is about more than a trophy or a state championship. Building character and sportsmanship is critical to education-based athletic programs.

I am proud of our team, and I am thankful to our Hayfield community for supporting our students in all their activities - from academics to fine arts to sports. We are stronger together and together, we will move forward in a direction that brings our focus and energy back to student success.

Thank you for being a part of our Hawk Family.

Sincerely,

Darin Thompson
Principal
Hayfield Secondary School

WHY is FVPS wasting taxpayer money on reviewing ALL sports and ALL high schools when this is clearly just a Hayfield/school board/Reid ethics issue?

They are wasting our taxpayer dollars

Do you have kids in HS sports? Travel sports? Are their coaches running sports programs outside the high school? There is a lot of money to be made off the backs of kid/teen sports. A kid from Florida was recruited to play a sport up here recently. I’m sure there are others.

Are you afraid?

How asinine.

I am a taxpayer whose kids do not do sports.

Reid and FCPas have wasted far too much of my money and other ffx residents' money on Hayfield football, on a chewting issue that should have been resolved last summer by the firing of the Hayfield coaching staff.

They should just finish thqt job properly, and not waist a single minute or dollar on the other high schools and sports.

If there are going to independently investigate beyond Hayfield, it needs to be of Reid herself, not the sports programs of the 30 something other FCPS high school's sports programs.

Punish the violators. Quit wastingtaxpayer money on all the schools and sports that did nothing wrong.

[Anonymous]

Wonder if VHSL wanted to try this case in the media because they couldn’t win in court?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is friendly with one of the Hayfield English teachers, who has a son on the team and seems to be fully supporting Coach O. Her Instagram and the people tagged in her posts seem to be just some random people with no actual connection to Hayfield but are all in for the team?? Very very shady.

The "team mom" got hired as a teacher for this school year and her son played for Freedom. No idea if "team mom" worked as a teacher anywhere else before.

The coaches brother, who is an assistant coach, also got hired as a teacher aide. No idea who else associated with the team was
Mysteriously hired as a full time Hayfield employee.