Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop has been placed on administrative leave, Prince William County Public Schools announced in a letter to Patriot High School students.
The school system did not disclose a reason for the leave. While Bishop is on leave, Assistant Principal David Van Gelder will serve as acting principal.
“While I cannot share information regarding any employee’s leave, be assured our teachers and staff will continue to provide a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment for all students,” Van Gelder said in his letter to the Patriot High School community.
This leave follows allegations on Facebook from former Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ryan Sawyers that Bishop’s son, Nathan Bishop, was hired to work for the school system while he was under investigation for sexual assault.
Sawyer said on Facebook that the victim was a student at Patriot High School, and the incident occurred when Nathan Bishop was also a student. He was working at the school system on the day an arrest warrant was issued, Sawyer said, and reported to work the day after it was issued.
Prince William County Schools said in a statement that the school system requires all employees to undergo fingerprinting and a background check prior to employment. “This temporary employee passed the background check prior to his employment with us and the charges in question were filed after his employment began,” PWCS said.
Nathan Bishop was assigned to the Central Office Facilities Department and was not assigned to Patriot High School.
PWCS also said that its policy requires all employees to disclose felony arrests to PWCS, “as soon as practical, and in no event later than the first working day following the service of the summons, warrant, indictment, information, or other notice upon the employee.”
PWCS says it did not receive any notification of the arrest from Bishop or from law enforcement. Nathan Bishop resigned four days after the arrest without notifying the school system of the arrest.
“In cases where PWCS is made aware of felony arrests by law enforcement or an employee, immediate personnel action is taken,” PWCS said. Because of the nature of the conviction, Nathan Bishop is not eligible for reemployment at PWCS.
Nathan Bishop pled guilty to aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim last January, according to court documents. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June 2026.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
