Substitute Teacher Arrested for Threats in Virginia

A female substitute teacher from Loudoun County, Virginia, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly threatening a high school.

Situated between Washington, D.C., and Winchester, Loudoun County has recently been a focal point for various controversies related to transgender issues, including incidents of sexual assault and debates over bathroom policies.

Haydyn Drery, a 19-year-old from Chantilly, was charged with making threats to injure after the local sheriff’s office received a tip via the Safe2Talk app about potential violence at a nearby high school.

Interestingly, Drery is currently held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Leesburg, not on campus.

According to reports, she was an “unlicensed” substitute teacher for the 2025-26 school year but is no longer listed among the district’s substitutes. Loudoun County Public Schools noted that high school graduates aged 19 can serve as substitute teachers if they meet certain educational requirements.

A spokesperson for LCPS emphasized that student safety is paramount and that all threats are taken seriously. The district confirmed that Drery would not be allowed to substitute again.

The sheriff’s office stated that threats had been made through the Discord app, including messages that seemed to allude to a “kill list” for the school.

In related news, Scott Smith, a father whose daughter was allegedly assaulted by a biological male in a school restroom back in 2021, expressed concerns about school safety at a recent school board meeting. He confronted police when he attempted to discuss policy issues affecting his child.

Smith described confronting a fellow activist at the meeting who dismissed his daughter’s experience, which he found incredibly disheartening.

Former Governor Glenn Youngkin has previously stated that Smith deserves a public apology for the distress caused to him and his family. He reinforced that advocating for a child’s safety should be honored and respected.