McKnight's cronyism and hostile work environment

[Anonymous]

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse for McKnight, there's this: https://moco360.media/2024/02/01/principals-administrators-depart-as-mcps-faces-cronyism-accountability-concerns/

What a failure in leadership. To combat harassment and bullying in the workplace, she installs her cronies who are themselves subject to bullying complaints or bff's with Biedelman.

"The [post-Biedelman harassment fiasco] action plan, McKnight wrote to staff, would lead MCPS 'toward a safe and welcoming work environment for employees.' In the same email, McKnight announced the five interim appointees — four of them MCPS retirees — who would accompany her “Framework for Change.” According to five current and former district leaders, at least one of the appointees was involved with Beidleman’s prior promotions and at least one was the subject of complaints of workplace bullying"

"According to interviews with more than three dozen current and former central office employees and school administrators, allegations of cronyism and a lack of accountability, collaboration and clear communication have been ongoing themes of McKnight’s superintendency that have eroded educators’ trust in MCPS leadership, as a disproportionately high number of district officials and principals have left the school system"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just when I thought it couldn't get worse for McKnight, there's this: https://moco360.media/2024/02/01/principals-administrators-depart-as-mcps-faces-cronyism-accountability-concerns/

What a failure in leadership. To combat harassment and bullying in the workplace, she installs her cronies who are themselves subject to bullying complaints or bff's with Biedelman.

"The [post-Biedelman harassment fiasco] action plan, McKnight wrote to staff, would lead MCPS 'toward a safe and welcoming work environment for employees.' In the same email, McKnight announced the five interim appointees — four of them MCPS retirees — who would accompany her “Framework for Change.” According to five current and former district leaders, at least one of the appointees was involved with Beidleman’s prior promotions and at least one was the subject of complaints of workplace bullying"

"According to interviews with more than three dozen current and former central office employees and school administrators, allegations of cronyism and a lack of accountability, collaboration and clear communication have been ongoing themes of McKnight’s superintendency that have eroded educators’ trust in MCPS leadership, as a disproportionately high number of district officials and principals have left the school system"

All true…Dempsey and Kimball were well known for outrageous bullying of underlings for many years. There was a collective sigh of relief in central office when they retired and an audible collective gasp when they returned! Just unbelievable! :-o

[Anonymous]

Wow, this is pretty damning.

Lance Dempsey, another of McKnight’s October appointees, was the Northwest High School principal — another position overseen by Kimball — during a period that overlapped with McKnight, Beidleman, Edwards and Sheron’s time as middle school administrators. Dempsey retired in 2020 from her role as the associate superintendent of human resources and development. Her retirement came after several employees submitted workplace bullying complaints about her, according to three former district officials who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from MCPS. “There wasn’t a week or two that went by without someone calling because of the way Lance talked to them,” said Sue Gindes, who at that time was the director of representation programs for SEIU Local 500, the union for MCPS support staff. “Lance was bullying. A lot of people quit because of her.”

Jill Ortman-Fouse, a school board member at the time, confirmed to MoCo360 that “we received emails voicing these concerns [regarding Dempsey]. The communication we received voiced fear, frustration and bullying complaints.”

[Anonymous]

McKnight has got to go. This level of failure of leadership is unsustainable. Good bye.

[Anonymous]

The county council needs to subpoena that investigation and publish it regardless of what MCPS or the school board wants

[Anonymous]

Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am in the NAACP's backing of McKnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am in the NAACP's backing of McKnight.

And the MCCPTA. You’d think these organizations would wait for all of the facts to come out before weighing in. Every week this gets worse and worse for McKnight and her claim that she’s done nothing wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am in the NAACP's backing of McKnight.

And the MCCPTA. You’d think these organizations would wait for all of the facts to come out before weighing in. Every week this gets worse and worse for McKnight and her claim that she’s done nothing wrong

I already knew that there was a problem when she went to the County Council and LIED to them that she had no idea there were issues with Beidleman when she promoted him.

There was just no way that could be true given how visible he was and that he was SELECTED for promotion, a promotion which she has the final say on, and someone who she had a friendly relationship with. But she stuck with that lie and has continued spreading that lie through her acolytes in the NAACP and beyond. It's disgusting.

I could've respected her much more if she admitted to an error in judgement about him but she can't do that.

[Anonymous]

“It did not go unnoticed that a bunch of middle school principals were suddenly promoted to very high levels at the beginning of her tenure,” said MCEA president Jennifer Martin. “It did certainly raise eyebrows.”

What a nightmare, and a catastrophe for teachers, administrators, students, and families in this district.

In some ways, this is shocking. In other ways, it's a tale as old as time. A promising and ambitious employee promoted too fast, and never building a foundation for competent leadership. Catapulted into the big job too soon, for reasons that had more to do with politics than competence, and immediately closing ranks and bringing in cronies to say yes.

It's kind of a shame, honestly. I don't doubt she might have had promise at one point, but this isn't how you build a leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am in the NAACP's backing of McKnight.

And the MCCPTA. You’d think these organizations would wait for all of the facts to come out before weighing in. Every week this gets worse and worse for McKnight and her claim that she’s done nothing wrong

MCCPTA is a huge disappointment. They have been rubber stamping and cheerleading mcps for years. Anyone who thinks MCCPTA leadership is qualifying for a BOE run should think again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

If they don't, vote the council members out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly if after reading this McKnight doesn't get fired (without severance) then MCPS's reputation is officially done. I know it's gone downhill for years but her staying solidifies that it's a toxic system with no real leadership at any level including the BOE. That means if the BOE doesn't fire her, the County Council needs to remove the BOE. Honestly.

And to the NAACP - WTH? Stop supporting this monster.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am in the NAACP's backing of McKnight.

And the MCCPTA. You’d think these organizations would wait for all of the facts to come out before weighing in. Every week this gets worse and worse for McKnight and her claim that she’s done nothing wrong

MCCPTA is a huge disappointment. They have been rubber stamping and cheerleading mcps for years. Anyone who thinks MCCPTA leadership is qualifying for a BOE run should think again.

Yep. They're terrible. They have championed busing and forcing kids to read gay/trans books against their parent's wishes.

[Anonymous]

They definitely got what was coming to them. Dana Edwards, then Dana Davison was a well known bully when she was principal at Martin Luther King MS. She bullied her teachers constantly. Some of them tried to commit suicide because of the abuse from Dana. She completely ignored ADA accommodations and would retaliate against them by placing them on PAR. Several complaints were made with the union and the county. What did the county do instead of firing her? They keep on promoting her...That's why she thought she could get away with the Beidleman mess, her best friend! Pathetic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just when I thought it couldn't get worse for McKnight, there's this: https://moco360.media/2024/02/01/principals-administrators-depart-as-mcps-faces-cronyism-accountability-concerns/

What a failure in leadership. To combat harassment and bullying in the workplace, she installs her cronies who are themselves subject to bullying complaints or bff's with Biedelman.

"The [post-Biedelman harassment fiasco] action plan, McKnight wrote to staff, would lead MCPS 'toward a safe and welcoming work environment for employees.' In the same email, McKnight announced the five interim appointees — four of them MCPS retirees — who would accompany her “Framework for Change.” According to five current and former district leaders, at least one of the appointees was involved with Beidleman’s prior promotions and at least one was the subject of complaints of workplace bullying"

"According to interviews with more than three dozen current and former central office employees and school administrators, allegations of cronyism and a lack of accountability, collaboration and clear communication have been ongoing themes of McKnight’s superintendency that have eroded educators’ trust in MCPS leadership, as a disproportionately high number of district officials and principals have left the school system"

All true…Dempsey and Kimball were well known for outrageous bullying of underlings for many years. There was a collective sigh of relief in central office when they retired and an audible collective gasp when they returned! Just unbelievable! :-o

They definitely got what was coming to them. Dana Edwards, then Dana Davison was a well known bully when she was principal at Martin Luther King MS. She bullied her teachers constantly. Some of them tried to commit suicide because of the abuse from Dana. She completely ignored ADA accommodations and would retaliate against them by placing them on PAR. Several complaints were made with the union and the county. What did the county do instead of firing her? They keep on promoting her...That's why she thought she could get away with the Beidleman mess, her best friend! Pathetic!