Board wants Monifa to step down

[Anonymous]

They should consider it a sunk cost at this point. She has lost all credibility with staff and parents. Once that's gone, it doesn't come back. Work out a buyout and everyone move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an incredible poetic justice to McKnight and MCPS being brought to its knees by a substitute teacher for the system.

Talk about a David and Goliath story!

I’m a fan of Alexandra’s articles, but it’s not exactly a David and Goliath story. She is a Yale grad who writes books. It’s possible she initially decided to work as a substitute teacher because she was researching a book about teachers. Good for her and good for the system, whatever the reason she chose to sub. It’s quite clear to me that good reporting and bad PR are the only way to change mcps. Those 18 complainants got nowhere until she&WP reported on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should consider it a sunk cost at this point. She has lost all credibility with staff and parents. Once that's gone, it doesn't come back. Work out a buyout and everyone move on.

+1

[Anonymous]

If she's not responsible for the organization then what is the point of her job? She needs to take responsibility for the organization she is running and step down. I guess she'd rather have the extra money pushing her out than respect. Where will she be able to go next?

[Anonymous]

Who else was involved in the "shenanigans"? Who else at MCPS is on the way out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's not responsible for the organization then what is the point of her job? She needs to take responsibility for the organization she is running and step down. I guess she'd rather have the extra money pushing her out than respect. Where will she be able to go next?

DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an incredible poetic justice to McKnight and MCPS being brought to its knees by a substitute teacher for the system.

Talk about a David and Goliath story!

I’m a fan of Alexandra’s articles, but it’s not exactly a David and Goliath story. She is a Yale grad who writes books. It’s possible she initially decided to work as a substitute teacher because she was researching a book about teachers. Good for her and good for the system, whatever the reason she chose to sub. It’s quite clear to me that good reporting and bad PR are the only way to change mcps. Those 18 complainants got nowhere until she&WP reported on it.

I'm guessing she decided to sub so she could build precisely the kind of relationships she's tapping now for her reporting. Whatever the reason for her substituting, she put in the work to dig deep into the belly of the beast and pulled out the facts for the rest of us.

I know Monifa hates her guts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Board has known for months that McKnight withheld information from them. What have they been doing all this time?

Gotta be careful when trying to break a contract. Very careful. Unless you want a 7 figure judgment against you.

Realistically, MCPS is going to have to pay out the rest of the contract. The only way they could get into trouble is if they start making accusations against her (either out of spite or to try to argue for firing for cause).

So, looking at her contract, it appears MCPS could fire her without cause and they'd only be on the hook to pay her one year's severance.

Maybe that's why she wants to fight termination. I don't think she'd get a similarly-paying job within a year, and I don't think she and her husband have a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an incredible poetic justice to McKnight and MCPS being brought to its knees by a substitute teacher for the system.

Talk about a David and Goliath story!

I’m a fan of Alexandra’s articles, but it’s not exactly a David and Goliath story. She is a Yale grad who writes books. It’s possible she initially decided to work as a substitute teacher because she was researching a book about teachers. Good for her and good for the system, whatever the reason she chose to sub. It’s quite clear to me that good reporting and bad PR are the only way to change mcps. Those 18 complainants got nowhere until she&WP reported on it.

I'm guessing she decided to sub so she could build precisely the kind of relationships she's tapping now for her reporting. Whatever the reason for her substituting, she put in the work to dig deep into the belly of the beast and pulled out the facts for the rest of us.

I know Monifa hates her guts.

What relationships? She didn't sub with anyone involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many scandals with hiring and some valued admin leaving.
Very aloof about programs in MCPS that she should know much more about. (Gave me the impression she is more focused on state boards or something rather than her current role.)
Vote of no confidence during the pandemic from teachers.
Recently we learned MCPS is 50 million in the hole so there is now a freeze on all new spending even for things like paper, Chromebook, chargers etc.
Has a rep for circling the wagons with only like minded thinkers at a high level.

This is concerning.

[Anonymous]

I really liked her at first. This is such a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an incredible poetic justice to McKnight and MCPS being brought to its knees by a substitute teacher for the system.

Talk about a David and Goliath story!

I’m a fan of Alexandra’s articles, but it’s not exactly a David and Goliath story. She is a Yale grad who writes books. It’s possible she initially decided to work as a substitute teacher because she was researching a book about teachers. Good for her and good for the system, whatever the reason she chose to sub. It’s quite clear to me that good reporting and bad PR are the only way to change mcps. Those 18 complainants got nowhere until she&WP reported on it.

I'm guessing she decided to sub so she could build precisely the kind of relationships she's tapping now for her reporting. Whatever the reason for her substituting, she put in the work to dig deep into the belly of the beast and pulled out the facts for the rest of us.

I know Monifa hates her guts.

What relationships? She didn't sub with anyone involved.

She knows people who know people. There's no way she would have gotten these people to talk to her if there wasn't someone who knew her reassuring them it was ok to talk to Alexandra.

You see how many times people in the article said they feared retaliation? It takes a lot of work to get anyone in MCPS to speak up. She built up a source network while she was there. And you don't only build sources with people you work with directly, btw.

[Anonymous]

I lost count of how many times Alexandra had to write, "for fear of retaliation" in the article. That alone shows what a vile, toxic workplace McKnight has fostered. She should be ashamed of herself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who else was involved in the "shenanigans"? Who else at MCPS is on the way out?

Key and Hull?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Board has known for months that McKnight withheld information from them. What have they been doing all this time?

Gotta be careful when trying to break a contract. Very careful. Unless you want a 7 figure judgment against you.

Realistically, MCPS is going to have to pay out the rest of the contract. The only way they could get into trouble is if they start making accusations against her (either out of spite or to try to argue for firing for cause).

So, looking at her contract, it appears MCPS could fire her without cause and they'd only be on the hook to pay her one year's severance.

Maybe that's why she wants to fight termination. I don't think she'd get a similarly-paying job within a year, and I don't think she and her husband have a lot of money.

Should have saved up, especially if she didn't spring for a MoCo residence.