Assistant superintendent placed on leave after staff member claims he repeatedly projected a photo of her in a college dance team uniform at meetings

Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Dakota Griffin, KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · July 22, 2026 · 3 min read

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. ( WVIR ) — Allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and intimidation toward women within Albemarle County Public Schools in Virginia are being made against Assistant Superintendent Patrick McLaughlin. Heidi Gilman Bennett, a family counseling officer with Albemarle ...

Why this matters in The Midland

The allegations against Assistant Superintendent Patrick McLaughlin in Albemarle County, Virginia, may seem distant from Midland, but they resonate locally in the context of school district accountability. As Midland County residents, we should consider how our own school administrators address allegations of misconduct and foster a culture of respect. The fact that a staff member in Virginia felt compelled to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, citing a culture of fear and misogyny, raises questions about the measures in place to protect employees and prevent harassment. In Midland, we should be aware of the protocols our school district has in place to investigate and address similar allegations, and whether they are effective in promoting a safe and respectful work environment. As we follow this story, we should also be mindful of the importance of transparency and accountability in our own local school administration.

About this story

Original reporting by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: schools · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · Reading time: 3 min

Frequently asked about this story

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When was this published?

This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Dakota Griffin at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). To learn more about how The Midland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards.

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Summary created by	The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Dakota Griffin, KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 22, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Assistant superintendent placed on leave after staff member claims he repeatedly projected a photo of her in a college dance team uniform at meetings

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