Teacher Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Fairfax County Schools in Abortion Assistance Case

A veteran English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher has filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), following an investigation that dismissed her allegations about a school social worker helping a student obtain an abortion.

Zenaida Perez, who teaches at Centreville High School, filed the legal action against the school district, Superintendent Michelle Reid, and several administrators after a law firm hired by FCPS concluded her claims were “likely false and fabricated.”

The lawsuit was announced at a press conference outside the Fairfax County courthouse, where Perez appeared alongside her attorneys and representatives from Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion advocacy organization.

“I felt retaliated against,” Perez told reporters. “I was absolutely slandered, and they told a lot of things in the media that were absolutely not true, and we will come out with the truth, and we will prevail with honesty.”

The controversy began in August when Perez publicly claimed that in May 2022, a 17-year-old student had confided in her that a school social worker had arranged and paid for her abortion without notifying her guardian.

“I asked her, ‘I need you to tell me the details about what you know and what you remember. What happened to you?'” Perez recounted. “Then she confessed to me privately and away from the rest of the class that she got pregnant back in October, November 2021, and she had an abortion that was facilitated and arranged and covered financially, paid by the social worker at the school.”

Sources indicate the student in question was an unaccompanied minor in the United States, which adds complexity to the case regarding guardian notification requirements.

The law firm investigation conducted on behalf of FCPS sharply contradicts Perez’s account. According to their findings, the school social worker followed proper protocol by referring the girl to a Health Department nurse. The investigation also maintains that a relative listed as a guardian in school records was properly contacted.

The girl’s uncle, who occasionally housed her, spoke to local media but requested anonymity. He stated he was not the teen’s legal guardian, though Perez’s lawsuit contends he was indeed her guardian and should have been notified about any medical procedures.

Adding another layer to the case, the FCPS investigation suggests Perez initially made these allegations in 2022 after being disciplined for allegedly helping a student obtain a pregnancy test, potentially suggesting retaliatory motives.

Perez has since been placed on administrative leave. The notification letter cited potential “serious professional misconduct” as the reason for her suspension.

Steve Aden, general counsel for Americans United for Life, explained the basis for the lawsuit: “They have disparaged her character, virtually destroyed her reputation with her peers, with her friends at Centreville High School, with the community. They have run her through the wringer in the press, and we want justice and compensation for all of that.”

Beyond the defamation claims, Perez’s legal team alleges violations of her whistleblower protections and First Amendment rights.

While the civil lawsuit proceeds, Virginia State Police are conducting their own investigation to determine whether Perez’s allegations have merit and if any criminal laws were violated in the process.

FCPS responded to news of the lawsuit with a statement expressing regret over Perez’s legal action: “Once we have been served with this complaint, FCPS will respond in court through external counsel. We do find it regrettable that Mrs. Perez has taken this step. She has publicly accused FCPS and individual staff members of serious misconduct involving alleged student abortions. As we have now explained in detail, the interim findings of our ongoing external investigation show that Mrs. Perez’s accusations appear to lack credible support and are likely untrue.”

The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding reproductive rights policies in schools and the legal responsibilities of educational institutions when dealing with minors’ healthcare decisions.