Richmond Public Schools Chief Talent Officer Maggie Clemmons was placed on administrative leave recently after complaints were received from Talent Department’s employees for discrimination and creating a hostile work environment.

In an email reportedly sent to the Talent Department, Superintendent Jason Kamras said a third-party investigation would examine the complaints against Clemmons.

“I hope you all know how deeply I believe in our motto — to teach, lead, and serve with love, which is why it pains me to hear the allegations that have been made,” Kamras reportedly stated in the email.

RPS Director of Communications Alyssa Schwenk confirmed Clemmons’ leave but said the division could not discuss personnel matters.

Clemmons’ administrative leave came after complaints against her from 18 RPS employees were discussed during the School Board meeting on Feb. 4. The group compiled a 58-page grievance letter citing Clemmons’ alleged racism toward employees of color, incompetence and abuse of her power within the Finance and Talent departments.

“We had a brief conversation where [Clemmons] mocked my accent in an extremely public area with my co-workers present,” said Shirley Maxwell, an RPS human resources specialist, who is of Afro-Latino descent. “No one, especially not my supervisor, has the right to mock it.”

Clemmons – who oversees the school division’s human resources operations and talent management – was not present during the meeting.

Some RPS employees with the Talent Department such as Bernice Lewis, told the School Board that they were afraid of retaliation from Clemmons and alleged she overstepped her authority.

“I have watched her break policy and protocol multiple times,” said Lewis, who retold the story of Clemmons’ behavior toward her last month when Lewis questioned Clemmons on changes to her job duties.

“I asked her a question only about my job duties … She responded in a loud and aggressive tone that my duties will not change and I don’t have the right to make that decision.”

Before joining RPS in August 2023, Clemmons was the director of licensure and school leadership for the Virginia Department of Education from 2020 to 2023. She also was the special assistant to the superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools from 2017 to 2018.

Before becoming an educational leader, Clemmons began her career as the director of legislative education and development for the Virginia House of Delegates from 2007 to 2009.