Chesterfield School Board chooses interim representative after member’s resignation

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Chesterfield County School Board has chosen an interim representative for the Clover Hill District after a previous board member resigned following controversial social media posts regarding Charlie Kirk's assassination.

During a special meeting on Friday, Oct. 31, the board appointed Dr. Jenna Darby as the interim representative for the district, per a release. She will officially assume the role starting Jan. 1.

The current representative for Clover Hill, Dorothy Heffron, announced her resignation back in September after a request from the school board following a post she made in relation to the assassination of Kirk that said, "Call me old-fashioned, but I remember when we used to be okay with shooting Nazis."

Heffron's resignation will go into effect on Dec. 31, and Darby's interim appointment will last until a special election can occur to choose a representative for the remainder of the term -- which continues through Dec. 31, 2027.

"Thank you for the trust you have placed in me today. I am honored to accept this appointment," Darby said at the meeting. "With that responsibility comes a promise from me. I will earn confidence through openness, steadiness and actively listening. ... I am pleased to join a School Board where students are at the center of every decision. We will continue to focus on providing strong instruction in literacy and mathematics, maintaining safe and welcoming schools, and supporting special education and student services that meet needs with dignity and equity."

Darby will bring 21 years of experience working in education to the role. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as well as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Richmond, according to the release.