{"id":368319,"date":"2021-04-01T12:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T16:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=368319"},"modified":"2021-04-01T12:52:07","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T16:52:07","slug":"ig-equity-official-used-gov-job-to-boost-her-entirely-duplicative-for-profit-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ig-equity-official-used-gov-job-to-boost-her-entirely-duplicative-for-profit-firm\/","title":{"rendered":"IG: \u2018Equity\u2019 Official Used Gov Job To Boost Her \u2018Entirely Duplicative\u2019 For-Profit Firm"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fig-equity-official-used-gov-job-to-boost-her-entirely-duplicative-for-profit-firm%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=368319&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Virginia Department of Education\u2019s director of equity and community engagement allegedly used state resources to establish an equity consulting business, according to a report from the Office of the State Inspector General (IG).<\/p>\n<p>In September 2019, the IG received two complaints alleging that Leah Dozier-Walker violated state and Education Department policies. The first alleged that Dozier-Walker used state resources and office time for her personal consulting business.<\/p>\n<p>According to the IG report, Dozier-Walker created and operated two websites, \u201cLeahDozierWalker.com\u201d and \u201cLeadingImpactNow.com.\u201d Following the investigation, Dozier-Walker deleted \u201cLeadingImpactNow.com,\u201d though her personal website still references the brand. The investigation concluded Dozier-Walker developed personal resources and services that were \u201centirely duplicative\u201d of the duties performed by her state government position.<\/p>\n<p>Included on her websites were photos, documents, and a video that were created by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Some of the photos show Dozier-Walker at various conferences working in her official capacity for VDOE.<\/p>\n<p>Other photos posted include a slogan and apparel that read, \u201cVirginia is for Learners,\u201d which is a modification of Virginia Tourism Corporation\u2019s \u201cVirginia is for Lovers\u201d brand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is unlikely that the Virginia Tourism Corporation would allow the branded \u2018Virginia is for Learners\u2019 in a for-profit business,\u201d the report reads. \u201cThis type of usage may be a copyright violation and subject VDOE and\/or Ms. Dozier-Walker to unfavorable legal consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Virginia Equity department aims to give every student not only equal opportunity but equal outcomes. According to the department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiaisforlearners.virginia.gov\/edequityva-2\/\">website<\/a>, it is committed to eliminating the predictability of student outcomes based on race, gender, or socio-economic status.<\/p>\n<p>The report also details staff interviews regarding Dozier-Walker\u2019s professional conduct. According to one staffer, Dozier-Walker was \u201cnever around\u201d and her absences \u201ccreate[d] challenges in the management and direction of the office.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dozier-Walker allegedly asked an employee to do her a \u201cfavor\u201d and review a logo for her personal blog and make suggestions during work hours.<\/p>\n<p>A staff member also shared a since-deleted Facebook post with investigators in which Dozier-Walker announced she had \u201ctaken a new job at Leading Impact Now\u201d as the \u201cowner and founder.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_206078\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-206078\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Starting-Job-146x300.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-87.jpeg 146w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-88.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-89.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-90.jpeg 747w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-91.jpeg 996w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-92.jpeg 1080w\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"1233\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-206078\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-206078\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>via Facebook<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The investigation dug into Dozier-Walker\u2019s time and productivity logs and found that she had a total of 95.5 hours of \u201cunexplained exceptions\u201d during work hours, in part from abusing work-from-home privileges.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter review of building access history, timesheets, etc., it appears that Ms. Dozier-Walker took broad latitude in modifying her established office hours, telework, attend[ing] offsite meetings, and networking at coffee shops, etc. during work hours,\u201d the report said. \u201cTelework was used extensively on other days than her approved Friday telework day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, Dozier-Walker\u2019s salary was raised from $88,300 to $102,219 between January 2019 and March 2020.<\/p>\n<p>The second allegation claims that Dozier-Walker provided false information on government ethics forms. On Jan. 31, 2020, Dozier-Walker claimed that she did not receive income from an outside business and did not own a business with a value greater than $5,000.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation was unable to determine whether Dozier-Walker told the truth on government forms. Dozier-Walker claims that while the business was incorporated, it did not have a business license or federal tax identification number, therefore, \u201cno business [had] been established.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The IG report recommended \u2014 among other things \u2014 that Dozier-Walker make restitution for the 95.5 \u201cunresolved leave hours.\u201d It also recommended that the VDOE suspend her telework privileges and monitor her activity closely.<\/p>\n<p>Dozier-Walker denies the findings of the investigation, which, according to records obtained by The Daily Wire, was so extensive that it cost taxpayers $25,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe allegations against me are appalling and untrue. I have worked in public service for 20 years and have never been accused of wrongdoing,\u201d Dozier-Walker told the <a href=\"http:\/\/richmondfreepress.com\/news\/2020\/apr\/30\/state-education-official-disputes-findings-state-i\/?fbclid=IwAR1e0I5tf98zGb8laLazSo4X6biePe_9fJsdVKe0gY3wjyff31813KeGNdU\">Richmond Free Press<\/a>. \u201cI have not abused my position or misused government resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dozier-Walker remains an employee of the Virginia Department of Education and is highly involved in creating the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doe.virginia.gov\/instruction\/history\/index.shtml\">state\u2019s new social studies curriculum framework<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesman for the VDOE told The Daily Wire that the department considered all of the IG report\u2019s recommendations and \u201ctook steps to implement them as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMs. Walker is currently an employee and in good standing at the VDOE,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a><i>. <\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Virginia Department of Education\u2019s director of equity and community engagement allegedly used state resources to establish an equity consulting business, according to a report from the Office of the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2311512,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Starting-Job-146x300.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"IG: \u2018Equity\u2019 Official Used Gov Job To Boost Her \u2018Entirely Duplicative\u2019 For-Profit Firm","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-368319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Starting-Job-146x300.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"IG: \u2018Equity\u2019 Official Used Gov Job To Boost Her \u2018Entirely Duplicative\u2019 For-Profit Firm","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=368319"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368319\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2311512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=368319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=368319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=368319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}