schools
Assistant superintendent placed on leave after staff member claims he repeatedly projected a photo of her in a college dance team uniform at meetings
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Dakota Griffin , WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 22, 2026
· 3 min read
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. ( WVIR ) — Allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and intimidation toward women within Albemarle County Public Schools in Virginia are being made against Assistant Superintendent Patrick McLaughlin. Heidi Gilman Bennett, a family counseling officer with Albemarle ...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Dakota Griffin, WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Gilman Bennett said she learned of the alleged incidents before the July 16 school board meeting, where she publicly described what she had been told.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The allegations against Assistant Superintendent Patrick McLaughlin in Virginia's Albemarle County Public Schools raise questions about the culture within Nashville's own school system. While the specifics of this case are unique, the claims of a "culture of fear" and "misogyny" should prompt local educators and administrators to reflect on their own workplaces. Nashville's schools have faced their own challenges related to staff conduct and student well-being, making it crucial for the community to stay vigilant and ensure that similar incidents are not occurring locally. The fact that an employee in Virginia allegedly feared speaking out due to concerns about retaliation should encourage Nashville's school leaders to review their own policies and procedures for reporting and addressing harassment and intimidation. By prioritizing a safe and respectful environment, Nashville's schools can better support the success and well-being of all students and staff.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. ( WVIR ) — Allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and intimidation toward women within Albemarle County Public Schools in Virginia are being made against Assistant Superintendent Patrick McLaughlin. Heidi Gilman Bennett, a family counseling officer with Albemarle ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Dakota Griffin at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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