This year, Northern Virginia schools have become embroiled in another scandal, this one even more tragic than the rest. There has been a rash of fentanyl overdoses by students in the school districts, with one school in Loudoun County recording EIGHT overdoses in just one week back in October. Overall, there have been 19 overdoses of students in 2023 in Loudoun County and the number for Fairfax County has spiked as well. School officials have been highly criticized for their response to this epidemic.
On Dec. 5, another fatal fentanyl overdose was reported, this time a female student at Justice High School in Fairfax County. What followed was about as horrific a response as you could possibly imagine from the Justice school principal, Tiffany Narcisse.
Yes, that is her real last name and yes, it could not be more ghoulishly appropriate.
Following the death, Narcisse posted a picture of herself on X, smiling and talking about her strength and her growth. That is the photo on the left. On the right was the reaction of outraged students, who made copies of her narcissistic tweet and posted them all over the school.
Narcisse deleted the tweet, and Fairfax County Superintendent Michelle Reid issued the following apology:
Principal Narcisse made me aware of her social media post that drew significant criticism. In response to that criticism, she had since removed the post.
I subsequently spoke with Principal Narcisse, and I understand both the intent and the impact of the post as she explained it. I have addressed my concerns with her, and made clear my leadership expectations moving forward.
The role of a school principal is increasingly complex and as humans, we make mistakes. We also process grief in different ways. Extending grace to one another during difficult times builds a stronger community. We appreciate your grace at this time.
What you don't read in that apology is that Narcisse was fired from her position. Because, of course, she wasn't. She did issue a similar apology to families, in which she noticeably failed to announce her resignation.
Doesn't look like she is grieving all that much in her photo, to be perfectly honest.
Nope. They never get fired. We don't even believe Narcisse was suspended according to the superintendent's apology.
It really is quite sociopathic the way every event revolves around themselves, like no one else matters or even exists.
Virginia just had elections back in November. We'd really like to hear from the parents who keep voting for political and school leadership that allows this.
Ouch. Leave it to Lenny 'Nails' Dykstra to pull zero punches whatsoever.
And there is the problem. The tragic death of a child is more pain than any family should have to endure. But the principal of that child's school just adding to that pain by being a completely tone-deaf narcissist is simply inexcusable.
But welcome to Northern Virginia Public Schools. Where the inexcusable is excused nearly every day.