“As national immigration policies evolve, I want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to every student in our schools,” wrote Aaron Spence, Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), in an email to parents and staff on January 30. “Education is not just a service—it is the foundation of a strong community.”
This statement came in response to the signing of Executive Order 14159, called “Protecting The American People Against Invasion,”by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Under this order, immigration officers are now able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations such as schools, going against guidelines from the Biden administration that had explicitly restricted enforcement at such locations.
“As soon as the executive order went into effect, we met as a group of principals with the central office staff,” Ryan Hitchman, Principal of Lightridge, said. “They provided us with a flow chart of the steps we’re supposed to go through if we come across a situation with a federal law enforcement officer.”
The most important step is to confirm that the person is indeed a federal law enforcement officer. Badges must be shown and checked thoroughly, and information must be collected regarding the officer’s supervisor. Once this information is collected, the central office must be notified of the officer’s presence in the school building. These procedures apply to every school in LCPS.
“We do not provide federal law enforcement officers with any information about an individual student, family member, or school employee,” Hitchman said. “That is not something our front office can do.”
In addition to district-wide protocols, certain measures were taken at Lightridge specifically. Families have been encouraged to review and update their emergency contact information, as a precaution. This ensures that staff can quickly reach relatives or alternate contacts in the event of a sudden parent relocation.
“We do have quite a number of students, staff, and parents who may be feeling uneasy right now,” Hitchman said. “But my job as principal is to provide a safe and secure environment for all, and that’s really what my goal is.”
