After months of investigation, the independent review of Prince William County Public Schools (PWCPS) Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts’ Twitter account is complete.
The Prince William County School Board has received a detailed briefing from the outside law firm it contracted to assess the division’s policies and activities. It remains to be seen if the information obtained during the investigation will be released to the public.
The Prince William County School Board hired the firm in March to review Walts’ communications with students after several allegations arose regarding inappropriate interactions with students. PWCPS Policy 503.02-1 provides direction and regulations for school district employees’ electronic communication with students which states that employees should not “access” students’ personal social media accounts.
Walts initially used Twitter for school system news and gained a strong following when he sang about school closures due to snow. His Twitter presence has over 30,000 followers. A Potomac Local News (PLN) investigation of Dr. Walts’ Twitter timeline found that he used his Twitter account to communicate directly with students’ personal accounts in a manner that disregarded the school division’s electronic communications policy. PLN discovered that Walts regularly used the platform to communicate with students during the late hours of the evening as well as during the school day.
After allegations were received by the School Board, Walts temporarily suspended his Twitter account @SuperPWCS on May 8. PLN as well as the Prince William County Board of Supervisors requested the school division to release the Tweets but were denied on grounds that the release would “interfere with the investigation”.
“We undertook this independent review in May after questions were raised about the administration’s use of social messaging to communicate with students,” said Dr. Babur B. Lateef, the School Board Chair. “We will now take the information we received and review it with the appropriate administration officials, including the superintendent.”
Lateef said the board would use the information to undertake a range of responsive actions, including an evaluation of current policies, processes, and training with the official use of social media platforms.
Walts has been the Superintendent of Prince William County Public Schools for the last 15 years. Over this period, he has become one of the highest-paid school superintendents in Virginia. His full compensation package including benefits comes out to $430,752.
The School Board will be meeting on Tuesday, July 28 in a closed session meeting to discuss Dr. Walts’ evaluation. The evaluation looks at the Superintendent’s performance based on criteria set by the Department of Education and the Prince William County School Board.
Recent Stories
A strong cold front moving into the region on Tuesday is expected to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for flooding and damaging winds during the afternoon and evening hours.
The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is expanding the impact of its summer musical Next to Normal with a special speaker series designed to connect the themes of the show to real-life mental health experiences in the Fredericksburg region.
All lanes on Sudley Road are back open following an overhead communications wire issue that forced a full road closure earlier today.
Signal Bay Waterpark will now open on Thursday, July 11, city officials announced Friday, marking the latest delay in the park’s summer season.
The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is your destination for all arts and culture activities in Northern Virginia. Find a concert, play, poetry reading, or exhibition in your neighborhood—many events are free and family-friendly!
Are you part of a performing arts group, school, or cultural organization? You can add your events and classes, too. The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is free and easy to use.
Your attendance at local arts events supports small businesses in our community and the art makers who help make Fairfax and its surrounding region so vibrant. With the ArtsFairfax Events Calendar, you can stay curious and stay local to plan your next arts adventure!
Go Ape, America’s leading aerial adventure park provider, is proud to unveil a revitalized experience across its iconic Zipline & Adventure Parks. This refresh goes beyond physical upgrades; it reflects a renewed mission to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and self.
“Go Ape has always been about thrilling treetop adventures,” says Chrissy Very, Senior Director of Marketing. “Now, we’re redefining what it means to truly connect: through purpose-driven outdoor experiences that inspire courage, reflection, and joy.”
As access to public outdoor spaces becomes more limited, Go Ape steps in to bridge the gap with immersive, inclusive, and wellness-focused adventures for individuals, families, and groups.
Christmas in July
Volunteer Prince William will be holding a fun-filled Christmas in July event at Heritage Brewing Co on July 26th from 12pm until 6pm with all proceeds going to support the 2025 Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket Program. Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
This unique Convention truly has something
