Dot Heffron Resigns from Chesterfield County School Board After Controversial Post About Charlie Kirk

Dot Heffron Resigns from Chesterfield County School Board After Controversial Post About Charlie Kirk

CHESTERFIELD, VA — Dot Heffron, Chair of the Clover Hill District on the Chesterfield County School Board, announced her resignation Sunday following backlash over a controversial social media post referencing slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The post, shared last week from Heffron’s Instagram account, stated that people were once “okay with shooting Nazis.” The remark was widely condemned by state officials and community members as inappropriate and insensitive. Heffron’s account has since been made private.

In a written statement released Sunday, Heffron admitted fault, saying, “The words I shared were wrong. I should have shown better judgment.”

Less than an hour after her apology, the Chesterfield County School Board issued a public announcement confirming it had accepted her resignation. Heffron offered to step down effective December 31, but the board said it would appoint an interim member until a special election is held to fill her seat through the remainder of her term, which runs until 2027.

Strong Political Reaction

Heffron’s comments quickly drew sharp criticism from Virginia Republicans and state leaders. Governor Glenn Youngkin called for her immediate resignation on Friday, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that her words were “disgraceful and unacceptable.”

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor, echoed Youngkin’s stance two days later:

“Dot Heffron has no place on a school board – not for three more months, not for one more meeting, not for one more day.”

The post and subsequent backlash highlighted growing political tension in Virginia’s public education system, where issues of free speech, partisanship, and classroom content have become central debate points.

Safety Concerns and Community Response

The other four school board members released a joint statement condemning Heffron’s remarks but also addressing the escalating hostility that followed.

“Threats of violence have no place in civil discourse,” they wrote, noting that Heffron, her family, and others in the school division had received threats.

Neither Heffron nor the school board has responded to additional requests for comment from VPM News or other media outlets.

Background

Dot Heffron, who represented the Clover Hill District, had served on the Chesterfield County School Board since her election, earning recognition for her work on student engagement and curriculum modernization. Her resignation marks yet another high-profile controversy involving local officials and social media conduct.

As of now, the Chesterfield School Board has not announced who will temporarily fill her seat. A special election date is expected to be scheduled early next year.

FAQs

1. Who is Dot Heffron?
Dot Heffron is the former Chair of the Chesterfield County School Board, representing the Clover Hill District in Virginia.

2. Why did Dot Heffron resign?
She resigned after facing backlash for a social media post about Charlie Kirk, where she referenced people being “okay with shooting Nazis.”

3. What did Dot Heffron say about her post?
Heffron admitted the post was wrong, stating, “I should have shown better judgment.”

4. When is her resignation effective?
Her resignation is effective December 31, with an interim member to be appointed until a special election.

5. How did Virginia officials react?
Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears both called for her immediate resignation.

6. What was the school board’s response?
The board accepted her resignation and condemned both Heffron’s remarks and the threats made toward her and others.