LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — A Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) counselor turned herself into the county's detention center Thursday afternoon after she was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, according to Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
42-year-old Ann Barrett of Ashburn was placed on leave in May as soon as the allegations were made, LCPS Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said. LCPS is seeking her termination and they are trying to get her license revoked.
The inappropriate relationship happened between 2013 and 2015 with a student at Freedom High School --where Barrett served as a school counselor, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
The sheriff's office said that they weren't made aware of the inappropriate relationship until May 2021 after LCPS officials were notified. The department immediately began investigating and obtained charges against Barrett.
In a letter that went out to parents at both Freedom High School the school administrators notified the school community that they were aware of the investigation. Another letter sent out by Stone Hill Middle School confirmed that Barrett was also an employee at the school.
Here's the full letter sent out to the Freedom High School community:
"This is Principal Neelum Chaudhry,
Today, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office released the media alert below concerning a former Freedom High School employee. Loudoun County Public Schools has cooperated fully with this investigation. The employee – who no longer works at Freedom High School – was placed on administrative leave when the school division became aware of allegations against them in May. LCPS is seeking the termination of this individual’s employment and the revocation of their teaching license."
Here's the full letter sent out to the Stone Hill Middle School community:
"This is Principal Kathryn Clark,
Today, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office released the media alert below concerning a former Stone Hill Middle School employee. Loudoun County Public Schools has cooperated fully with this investigation. The employee was placed on administrative leave when the school division became aware of allegations against them in May. The charges involve the employee’s actions before they came to Stone Hill. No Stone Hill students were involved in this alleged crime. LCPS is seeking the termination of this individual’s employment and the revocation of their teaching license."
In the letter to Freedom High School LCPS says that they cooperated fully with this investigation. "The employee – who no longer works at Freedom High School – was placed on administrative leave when the school division became aware of allegations against them in May."
Further information regarding the victim is not being released to help protect the former student’s identity. Barrett was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 secured bond.