The Centreville High School teacher who alleged that a social worker pressured a student to get an abortion without parental notification — a claim that school officials called “likely untrue” — is now taking her case to court.
Zenaida Perez, backed by the pro-life advocacy organization Americans United for Life (AUL), filed a civil lawsuit yesterday (Wednesday) alleging that Fairfax County Public Schools defamed and retaliated against her after she went public with her claims.
“Unfortunately, I must stand here before the Fairfax County Circuit Court to seek justice, not only for myself, but also for those that are raising their voices now and are willing to stand to protect minor girls, teenagers and the rights of parents from school bureaucrats seeking to harm them,” Perez said.
Since Oct. 20, Perez has been on paid administrative leave while FCPS investigates her for “serious professional misconduct.” She has also been repeatedly threatened with termination, according to one of her attorneys.
“We filed this lawsuit in order to put a stop to all of that and to force Fairfax Public Schools to give Mrs. Perez what it hasn’t given her throughout this whole process: respect and due process,” AUL Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Steven H. Aden said.
Perez’s 26-page lawsuit seeks compensatory damages totaling $1 million, in addition to an award of “pre and post-judgment interest at the legal rate, court costs, and any such further and additional relief as appropriate.”
“They have disparaged her character [and] virtually destroyed her reputation, with her peers, with her friends at Centreville High School, with the community,” Aden said. “We want justice and compensation for all of that.”
In August, an article published via a Substack newsletter first publicized Perez’s claims. The article alleged that a CHS social worker had pressured underage students to obtain abortions without parental notification, and that then-principal Chad Lehman allowed the use of school funds to pay for the procedure.
Two students were reportedly approached. One allegedly underwent the procedure, while the other decided not to do so.
Perez further claimed that her attempts to blow the whistle about the scheme were rebuffed by school and district officials.
In an initial report released Oct. 16, attorneys hired by FCPS to investigate Perez’s allegations announced that they were “very likely untrue and lacking in factual or evidentiary support.”
“We have found no evidence substantiating Mrs. Perez’s allegations that [the social worker] encouraged, facilitated, or funded student abortions,” the report reads. “Nor have we identified evidence substantiating claims that Lehman engaged in a ‘cover up’ to suppress evidence relating to these issues.”
An initial court date has not yet been set in the civil case, according to online court records.
When asked for comment, Fairfax County Public Schools said in a statement to FFXnow that it “will respond in court through external counsel” once officials are served Perez’s complaint.
“We do find it regrettable that Mrs. Perez has taken this step,” FCPS said. “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.”
This story was updated with a statement from FCPS.
