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Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light A former middle school teacher in Maryland will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years once she completes her prison term for sexually abusing a student, authorities announced on Tuesday. Melissa Marie Curtis, 31, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all suspended but 12 months to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty in June to three counts of third-degree sex offense in connection to the abuse of a teen. In November 2023, police in Montgomery County launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse that ha…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection
Four More Years? Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares Running For Reelection Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that he will not be seeking the Republican nomination for the governor's seat, and will instead be running for reelection.  In a video posted on social media, the AG touted his track record reducing drug crimes and targeting the state's most violent criminals. I am running for re-election as Attorney General. As Attorney General, I’ve deployed every tool available to keep Virginians safe and violent criminals off our streets. We are not going back to the failed policies of the past; our families' safety and Virginia's future… pic.twi…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose To DC Man, Selling At School: Feds A teacher in Maryland who allegedly left her classroom to sell drugs to people on school property is facing charges for distributing a fatal dose of fentanyl, according to federal authorities. Sarah Katherine Magid, 34, has been charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and the death of a victim, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed this week in District Court. Magid, a first-grade teacher at a Montgomery County school was arrested in August following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home fo…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Virginia's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released Several elementary schools in Virginia earned an A+ and are among the best in the state, according to a new Niche report. The Arlington Traditional Elementary School was ranked the top in the state, according to researchers, followed by Oak Street Elementary in Falls Church, Innovation Elementary and Taylor Elementary, also in Arlington. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users." …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police
Assistant Principal Accused Of Failing To Report Student Assaults In Fairfax County: Police As assistant principal in Virginia was charged after failing to report allegations about a special education teacher who allegedly assaulted multiple students, police say. Earlier this year, Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, a teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Fairfax County, was arrested and charged after investigators received a referral in April regarding an educator who was caught assaulting a student at school. According to investigators from the Fairfax County Police Department, the investigation found that between September 2023 and April 2024, Nagagata allegedly assaulted thr…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Several middle schools in Virginia earned top marks and are among the best in the state, according to a new Niche report. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in the Falls Church Public Schools System topped the list, followed by Lylburn Downing, Dorothy Hamm, and Rocky Run middle schools. Earlier this year, Niche also ranked the top public high schools in Virginia, a list that was topped by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Depar…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police
Instructional Assistant At Virginia HS Arrested For Obscene Sexual Display In Classroom: Police An instructional assistant at a Virginia high school was arrested after allegedly touching himself inappropriately in a classroom, police say. Great Falls resident David Scalea, 40, who worked as a Langley High School Instructional Assistant has been placed on leave and is behind bars after a student caught him in the act, according to investigators. During school hours on Friday, Oct. 11, police say that a School Resource Officer was notified by administrators that a student observed an instructional assistant masturbating in a classroom behind his desk. Detectives launched an investigati…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home 'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home
'Heaven Gained Another Angel:' Community Rallying To Send Award-Winning VA Crossing Guard Home A beloved member of the Alexandria Police Department who has been a fixture in the community for decades is being remembered for his work and commitment to children following his death, now they are hoping to send his body home to Trinidad. School Crossing Guard Richard Thomas leaves behind a lasting legacy following his passing after years of directing traffic and bonding with students and families during an award-winning career in Virginia. The state's "Most Outstanding Crossing Guard" in 2023 "knew how to keep everyone in the world around him safe," organizers of a GoFundMe campaign wrot…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed
New Rankings: Fairfax County's Top Public High Schools Revealed Niche has released its list of the best public high schools in America for 2025. Coming in at No. 12 is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which is within the Fairfax County Public School System. For Virginia, TJHS came in at No. 1, with Independence HS in Loudoun County ranking at No. 2, and Washington Liberty HS in Arlington at No. 3. You can click here for a full list of state rankings. We wanted to break it down further and find the best public high schools in northern Virginia, as ranked by Niche. Here's how it looks: ARLINGTON (only three listed) 1. Washingto…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities 5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities A 52-year-old assistant principal has been arrested after authorities said she assaulted a 5-year-old child in Northern Virginia. Misty Kelly, the assistant principal at the Spotswood Elementary School, has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and is expected to surrender to police in Spotsylvania, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said. The 5-year-old student's mom said she noticed bruising on her daughter's back and ribs and notified authorities on Aug. 28, the sheriff's office said. "When the mother questioned her child as to how she received the injuries, the child s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police
Woman Restrained Kids With Tape At Fairfax County-Licensed Day Care Facility: Police An Alexandria woman who ran a county-licensed at-home day care center is facing charges for allegedly abusing at least two children, Fairfax County officials say. Sumy Shah, 47, turned herself in to police this week following an investigation into allegations that on multiple occasions she restrained children using tape at the facility. According to the Fairfax County Police Department, earlier this month, officers were called to the 3600 block of Paul Street in Bailey's Crossroads to investigate a reported assault, and it was determined that Shah allegedly abused the children. An arrest w…

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by Zak Failla
News
First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police
First-Grade Teacher Arrested In Connection To Fentanyl-Related Death Of District Man: Police A first-grade teacher in Maryland has been arrested in connection to the fentanyl-related death of a District resident earlier this year, police in Montgomery County announced. Sarah Katherine Magid, an educator with the county's public schools, was arrested on Monday following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home following an investigation into a March 2024 overdose. An autopsy later determined that the DC man's cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, following the man's death, it was deter…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds If you know, you know.  It's no secret to Fairfax County residents, but Fortune made it official, naming Chantilly the third "best place to live for families" in a newly released ranking, citing it as "a serene escape" from the DC craziness. Researchers cited Chantilly's proximity to the city (24 miles), as well as Dulles International Airport, which is approximately seven miles away and is "convenient for family vacations."  "The community is largely residential, with just over 25,000 people, but there’s plenty to do," they said. "Along Route 50 you’ll find a number of…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Students In Virginia: Police Special Education Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Students In Virginia: Police
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Multiple Students In Virginia: Police A special education teacher in Virginia has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting multiple students, police say. Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, a teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Fairfax County, is facing charges after investigators received a referral in April regarding an educator who was caught assaulting a student at school. According to investigators from the Fairfax County Police Department, the investigation found that between September 2023 and April 2024, Nagagata allegedly assaulted three students on separate occasions. The nature of the assaults were not …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says
Former Teacher In Virginia Charged With Child Porn Offenses In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says A 31-year-old man in Virginia who worked as an educator and at a local church is facing child porn charges following a lengthy investigation in Spotsylvania County, according to the sheriff's office. Daniel Brian Fleming, already in custody for a previous offense involving a child, is now charged with solicitation of child pornography and use of a communications system to facilitate offenses involving children following an investigation by the Chesapeake Police Department, authorities announced on Tuesday. In January, the department learned that Fleming was involved with criminal activities…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Popular School Employee Dies Suddenly Spreading Shock Through Fairfax County Popular School Employee Dies Suddenly Spreading Shock Through Fairfax County
Popular School Employee Dies Suddenly Spreading Shock Through Fairfax County The sudden death of a 43-year-old school employee and father is spreading shockwaves through Fairfax County. Matt Rice, of Fairax, died unexpectedly on May 18, 2024, according to his obituary on the Fairfax Memorial Home website.  Posted by Matt Rice on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 He leaves behind his wife, Christina; son, Clayton; parents, Ronald and Shannon; brother, sister-in-law, and niece, Ryan, Lindsay, and Rylea, mother-in-law, Cynthia Miller and brother-in-law, Ryan Fowler, and countless more. A GoFundMe for Matt's family had raised more than $51,000 as of press time…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Behavior Interventionist, 73, Beats 6-Year-Old With Shoe At Spotsy School, Sheriff Says Behavior Interventionist, 73, Beats 6-Year-Old With Shoe At Spotsy School, Sheriff Says
Behavior Interventionist, 73, Beats 6-Year-Old With Shoe At Spotsy School, Sheriff Says A 73-year-old teacher has been arrested and terminated from her position after police say she beat a 6-year-old student with a shoe, authorities in Spotsylvania County said. Gloria Joan Jackson was working as a behavioral interventionist when she was captured on video assaulting the Cedar Forest Elementary School student, the county sheriff's office said in a release. ALSO SEE: Spotsy Teacher Had Drugs In Classroom, Husband Arrested High With 2-year-Old In Car The school's resource officer was tipped off on April 11, the sheriff's office said. The child was uninjured and Jackson was …

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by Cecilia Levine