Chesterfield School Board accepts resignation of member who made controversial Charlie Kirk post
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Chesterfield County School Board has officially accepted the resignation of one of its members after she made a controversial post about the death of Charlie Kirk.
During a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the board formally accepted the resignation of Dorothy "Dot" Heffron, who represents Chesterfield County Public Schools' Clover Hill District, according to a statement issued on Monday, Oct. 1.
Heffron recently came under fire after she made a post on Instagram that read, “Call me old-fashioned, but I remember when we used to be okay with shooting Nazis."
Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative influencer and co-founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking in front of a crowd at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. He was visiting the school in Orem, Utah, as part of his organization’s “The American Comeback Tour.”
Many have expressed their grief and condemned political violence in the wake of his death. However, there has also been significant debate on social media about which responses are appropriate and which are not -- and the impact they should or should not have on a person's employment.
Kirk had a large public presence, especially online, and was considered an important figure in the conservative community. President Donald Trump described him as a friend and ally. However, many of his viewpoints and statements were seen as controversial, including those directed at the LGBTQ+ community, single women and Jewish people.
These differing perceptions of Kirk and how they’ve impacted reactions to his death are under the microscope nationwide.
In Heffron's case, the Chesterfield School Board swiftly denounced her comments and demanded that she resign. Her intention to do so was announced on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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“It was never my intention to make light of violence or to suggest that harm to anyone is ever acceptable," her resignation letter reads, in part. "As an elected official and as someone entrusted with the responsibility of supporting students, families and educators, I should have shown better judgment."
Heffron's resignation is effective Dec. 31. In the meantime, she has been removed from all of her board-appointed committees and positions, with other board members taking up those responsibilities.
"It is important to note that neither the School Division, nor any member of the School Board, has the legal authority to remove an elected School Board member from office," the school board said in its Oct. 1 statement.
The school board will also be looking for an interim representative to fill Heffron's seat as of Jan. 1, 2026. A 10-day application period for those interested began on Monday and will end at 5 p.m. on Friday. Oct. 10. Interviews will be conducted if necessary after this window closes.
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Additionally, the public is invited to participate in a hearing on the appointment alongside the school board's regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
You can find more details on the process here.
"Our focus remains on serving our nearly 65,000 students by supporting academic success and maintaining a productive and supportive educational environment across Chesterfield County Public Schools," the school board said.
