Wakefield Football Team Incident Information & Updates

March 2021

• March 5, 2021
  • At the Wakefield-Marshall football game on March 5, students on the Wakefield Football Team experienced a racial incident and were subjected to racial slurs from the opposing team. In addition, a member of the opposing team spat upon a Wakefield football player. Officials were notified of the unsportsmanlike conduct of the opposing team, but their continued inaction caused the situation to ultimately escalate, resulting in the suspension of three Wakefield Football Team players from football games by the Virginia High School League (VHSL).
  • Wakefield Football Team Coach Hogwood notified Director of Student Athletics & Activities (DSA) Nate Hailey of the incident that happened as the team departed the game. Once they arrived back at school, Coach Hogwood and DSA Hailey held a longer conversation on the phone around 11 p.m. and Coach Hogwood told DSA Hailey the accusations that were being made by the players on the Wakefield Football Team about the Marshall athlete spitting on them and calling them racial slurs.
  • Following notification of the suspensions from VHSL, APS began working to have the suspension decision overturned. None of the students on the football team were suspended from school or football games by APS at any time.
• March 6, 2021
  • The two Directors of Student Athletics and Activities (DSA) from both Wakefield and Marshall engaged in three phones calls during the day discussing the accusations of racially motivated accusations and spitting as the cause of the altercation between the players. Both DSAs agreed to talk again on Monday, March 8 after the report from the officials was received. DSA Hailey and Coach Hogwood spoke again three times on the phone, as well discussing the incident and clarifying reports from the other Marshall DSA.
  • DSA Hailey contacted the player and his mother who had been spat on at the football game, discussed what happened on the field with him, and listened to his statement as to the actions that caused him to feel threatened. DSA Hailey also spoke briefly with his mother to get permission to speak with him during that call.
  • DSA Hailey contacted Larry Kendrick, the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association (NVFOA) commissioner, to discuss the incident and the actions of the officials. In that call, DSA Hailey asked Commissioner Kendrick to review the game film. He said he would leave it up to his officials and see what they said in the report.
• March 8, 2021
  • Director of Student Athletics and Activities (DSA) Hailey contacted Northern Virginia Football Officials Association (NVFOA) Commissioner Larry Kendrick again about the incident to inquire more about the film review process and asked for the final report timeline. In that conversation, DSA Hailey told Commissioner Kendrick that the officials’ initial assessment was incorrect on how and who started the fight, and DSA Hailey asked Commissioner Kendrick to review the film again. He said at that time that NVFOA does not typically use the film to review for infractions.
  • The VHSL Ejection Report was received. View Report
  • When DSA Hailey received the ejection report from Commissioner Kendrick, DSA Hailey immediately called him again to ask if NVFOA had reviewed the film and asked him if this would be their final report. Commissioner Kendrick said yes but suggested he may would look at it again. On that same day, DSA Hailey notified Coach Hogwood and all three students and families involved of the suspension and sent the required documentation over the VHSL. DSA Hailey informed one of the parents involved in the situation about the appeals process and that Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore was already working on the appeal for the three athletes.
  • DSA Hailey contacted Associate Director Tom Dolan at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) and expressed his dissatisfaction with the officials and Marshall High School for not taking the situation seriously and inability to seek the truth. Associate Director Dolan stated this situation was between the schools and the officials.
  • DSA Hailey met with the football team and coaches before practice to discuss the incident and asked for any athlete who needed to talk to contact him.
• March 9, 2021
  • Director of Student Athletics and Activities (DSA) Hailey continues to attempt to have officials overturn the suspension decision.
    • DSA Hailey contacted the DSA from Marshall High School multiple times that day discussing the appeal and to also convey to him that the Wakefield Football Team players were not happy with an equal punishment given the nature of the event. Marshall’s stance was Wakefield had to prove the kid did and said what Wakefield Football Players were alleging.
    • DSA Hailey contacted Northern Virginia Football Officials Association (NVFOA) Commissioner Larry Kendrick again explaining his review of the game film and to attempt to get him to review the film, but he stated their report was final.
    • DSA Hailey spoke with one of the parents of the football players again on this date notifying her that the conversations were not going well and that the other school, nor the game officials, were taking responsibility for what happened or did not happen during the game.
    • DSA Hailey spoke to Deb DeFranco, APS health, physical and driver education and athletics supervisor, again to see if she had anymore recommendations to reach a resolution between all of the parties involved in this incident. She explained that she had notified APS leadership and they had already begun reaching out to the Fairfax County Public Schools leadership.
  • APS Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics Supervisor Deb DeFranco had a phone call with the Fairfax Director Student Activities and Athletics.
  • Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore spoke with the acting principal at Marshall High School regarding this incident.
  • DSA Hailey and Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore spoke with the parents of the three student who were identified in the official’s report.
  • Supervisor DeFranco, Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore, and DSA Hailey had several conversations during the course of the day to update each other on the outcomes of the different meetings staff had related to the incident.
  • APS Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Arron Gregory had an initial conversation with the Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Equity Officer.
  • DSA Hailey spoke with Northern Virginia Football Officials Association (NVFOA) again to follow up on the official’s report, but received the same response that there would not be another review or any changes.
  • The DSAs from both schools talked again about the incident and the DSA from Marshall High School notified DSA Hailey that his players were accusing our players of spitting on them and calling them N-word, which was determined to be false and unsubstantiated.
• March 10, 2021: APS Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer (CDEIO) Gregory notified the APS No Place for Hate contact from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) regarding the incident and for available student supports. CDEIO Gregory was informed that Marshall High School is also a No Place for Hate school. The ADL contact committed to contacting Marshall’s principal and Virginia High School League (VHSL) to offer training and supports. To date, VHSL has not responded to the ADL’s requests.
• March 11, 2021
  • DSA Hailey informed the parent of one of the students of the reduction in the number of game suspensions from three to one. An email was also sent to Coach Hogwood and the other two players notifying them of the reduction in their game suspensions from the Virginia High School League.
  • Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore, APS Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Arron Gregory, and Health, Physical and Driver Education and Athletics Supervisor DeFranco, and Director of Students Athletics and Activities Nate Hailey met with the Wakefield Football Teams to discuss the incident.
• March 18, 2021
  • APS Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics Supervisor DeFranco emailed the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association requesting a conversation with the commissioner.
  • Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Gregory had a follow-up conversation with the Anti-Defamation League’s Education Director. The ADL wrote to the Virginia High School League (VHSL) in support of Wakefield with a request to provide training to officials and VHSL on bias and anti-discrimination. To date, the VHSL has not responded to the inquiry. The CDEIO requested ADL resources on cyber bullying and social media due to concerns.
• March 19, 2021
  • Wakefield High School Community Message from Principal Dr. Willmore View Message
  • A Message from the Superintendent About the Wakefield-Marshall Incident View Statement
  • Joint Statement from Fairfax County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools Regarding the Incident Involving Wakefield High School and Marshall High School View Statement
• March 20,2021: Chief Diversity, Equity and inclusion Officer Gregory and Wakefield Principal Dr. Willmore received an email from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Region 2 Assistant Superintendent to schedule a meeting time to discuss the incident and next steps moving forward with the Office of Equity in FCPS.
• March 22, 2021: Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Gregory met with DSA Hailey to discuss Fairfax County Public School’s request to meet and discuss Findings of Fact and timeline of March 5 football game.
• March 23, 2021: APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco received an email from the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association Commissioner to confirm a phone conversation for March 24.
• March 24, 2021
  • Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Gregory met with the Office of Equity & Excellence (OEE) Supervisor to discuss the Wakefield-Marshall incident and to discuss the available supports for the football team players.
  • APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco conducted a phone conversation with the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association Commissioner – information obtained on how game concerns are reviewed, trainings (racial bias), any interest in the NFL Officials Racial Bias training, and discussion about the March 5 Wakefield-Marshall game.
  • APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco emailed the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association Commissioner for a follow-up to their phone conversation.
  • APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco emailed and received a reply from New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association about the NFL Officials Racial Bias training.
• March 25, 2021: APS Superintendent Dr. Durán Provides an Update on the Wakefield Football Team Incident
  • Dr. Durán shared an update on the incident at the School Board Meeting. View his remarks beginning at the 00:37:35 minute mark. View Video
• March 26, 2021: APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco emailed the NFL Officials regarding their Racial Bias training.
• March 29, 2021: APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco met with Virginia High School League Executive and Associate Director and Fairfax county Public Schools Director of Student Activities and Athletics to plan for efforts regarding the joint statement released by both school divisions on March 19. View Statement
• March 30, 2021
  • APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco completed the National Federation High School course on Implicit Bias. This training is for coaches and provides education on implicit and explicit bias. The course is FREE and only lasted 1 hour.  At this time, APS is not recommending this course be required for coaches.
  • APS Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Gregory met with a national organization that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. This inquiry was to gauge interests in creating a partnership with APS to support training our coaches and athletes in racial equity and social justice.
• March 31, 2021: APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco emailed Northern Virginia Football Officials Association requesting the commissioner to follow up for a review of game film and to request the NVFOA report of review committee’s finding. NVFOA Commissioner returned the email stating that the Commissioner had not viewed the entire game; the game film would not be sent to the Review Committee and the Commissioner supported the officials’ report to the VHSL.

April 2021

• April 2, 2021: APS Chief of Staff Stockton Requests the APS Director of Internal Audit to conduct a cursory review of the incident and provide recommendations on actions moving forward.
• April 7, 2021
  • Wakefield Listening Session with the Superintendent – Durán hosted a listening session with the families of students on the Wakefield Football Team to provide them the opportunity to engage with the Superintendent and to share how APS can improve its support of students to avoid a situation like this from happening in the future. Dr. Durán also updated families on the incident and the changes APS is making as a result.
  • APS Supervisor Health, Physical and Driver Education & Athletics DeFranco mailed a letter to the NFL Officials requesting information on their Racial Bias training.
• April 8, 2021: APS Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Gregory met with the Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Diversity Office to discuss the Wakefield-Marshall incident. The focus of the meeting was to determine what caused the incident and how to strengthen the relationship between the two school divisions.

News Releases & Messages

• Wakefield High School Community Message from Principal Dr. Willmore View Message 
• A Message from the Superintendent About the Wakefield-Marshall Incident View Statement 
• Joint Statement from Fairfax County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools Regarding the Incident Involving Wakefield High School and Marshall High School on March 5, 2021 View Statement
• APS Superintendent Dr. Durán Provides an Update on the Wakefield Football Team Incident at the March 25 School Board Meeting. View his remarks beginning at the 00:37:35 minute mark. View Video