MCPS Whistleblower Details Lies, Retaliation in Sexual Harassment Case

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why is nobody asking for a Non-Retaliation Policy? The #1 reason people do not report things is fear, uncertainty, and doubt, primarily due to retaliation.

Nearly all of the MCPS C-Suite have little experience being at the C-Suite. Reading the profiles of each of the C-Suite (which is too difficult to find) showcases that each is in a growth-type role for their career. Therefore, they are new to MCPS, new to their roles, and generally fearful of losing their opportunity. In such situations, people who lack experience are more likely to deceive, ignore, and retaliate. And let's be clear: "Bullying" and "retaliation" are two separate behaviors.

It is time for MCPS to hire 'experienced' candidates who have weathered the storm and can rebuild a broken organizational culture.

I'd rather they stop focusing on this nonsense and put some effort into educating kids.

I'd rather principals stop bullying and sexually harassing their staff and put some effort into educating kids.

Except nobody has done this. Some guy made some unfortunate comments reported by a few anonymous sources. This is hardly a big issue. Let's move along and get back to education please.

Teachers who are being abused in their workplace are not going to be able to focus on education. Time for accountability.
Time for this to stop.

Examples like commenting on a person's appearance were unfortunate but hardly "abuse.". This is being blown out of proportion.

Just so you are aware most people don't want to work under a boss who tells them to shave their public hair.

I didn't see that one in the WaPo. In fact, the worst thing I saw involved a teacher who was sexting him nude pics and accused him of harassment.

I know, it was a tough article to read and I warned my friends that they might feel gross after reading it. So it's understandable that you either skipped those parts or blocked them out of your mind, but you really shouldn't be commenting on this issue if you are not willing to face the reality of Biedelman's behavior and how disturbing, scary and traumatizing it must have been to his subordinates.

I didn't skip it, but it seemed light on facts.

The article relied on mostly anonymous sources. I didn't find the evidence all that compelling.

Except for all of the named sources you're conveniently forgetting.

And all the named sources that only exist in your imagination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is nobody asking for a Non-Retaliation Policy? The #1 reason people do not report things is fear, uncertainty, and doubt, primarily due to retaliation.

Nearly all of the MCPS C-Suite have little experience being at the C-Suite. Reading the profiles of each of the C-Suite (which is too difficult to find) showcases that each is in a growth-type role for their career. Therefore, they are new to MCPS, new to their roles, and generally fearful of losing their opportunity. In such situations, people who lack experience are more likely to deceive, ignore, and retaliate. And let's be clear: "Bullying" and "retaliation" are two separate behaviors.

It is time for MCPS to hire 'experienced' candidates who have weathered the storm and can rebuild a broken organizational culture.

I'd rather they stop focusing on this nonsense and put some effort into educating kids.

I'd rather principals stop bullying and sexually harassing their staff and put some effort into educating kids.

Except nobody has done this. Some guy made some unfortunate comments reported by a few anonymous sources. This is hardly a big issue. Let's move along and get back to education please.

Teachers who are being abused in their workplace are not going to be able to focus on education. Time for accountability.
Time for this to stop.

Examples like commenting on a person's appearance were unfortunate but hardly "abuse.". This is being blown out of proportion.

Just so you are aware most people don't want to work under a boss who tells them to shave their public hair.

I didn't see that one in the WaPo. In fact, the worst thing I saw involved a teacher who was sexting him nude pics and accused him of harassment.

I know, it was a tough article to read and I warned my friends that they might feel gross after reading it. So it's understandable that you either skipped those parts or blocked them out of your mind, but you really shouldn't be commenting on this issue if you are not willing to face the reality of Biedelman's behavior and how disturbing, scary and traumatizing it must have been to his subordinates.

I didn't skip it, but it seemed light on facts.

The article relied on mostly anonymous sources. I didn't find the evidence all that compelling.

Except for all of the named sources you're conveniently forgetting.

There were some in the Washington Post article, although nearly all of the most serious allegations came from anonymous sources.

[Anonymous]

The IG report this month is very disturbing. Walker worked in an office that mishandled, ignored, and lost HR complaints regularly. And the school district was warned repeatedly about this and did nothing. The county council is holding a joint hearing to examine this on February 8. This is serious dereliction of duty. MCPS leadership ignored the problem for years.

[Anonymous]

Listen to Councilmember Jwando today on WMAU at 12 discuss MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The IG report this month is very disturbing. Walker worked in an office that mishandled, ignored, and lost HR complaints regularly. And the school district was warned repeatedly about this and did nothing. The county council is holding a joint hearing to examine this on February 8. This is serious dereliction of duty. MCPS leadership ignored the problem for years.

Yes, and since 2019 that leadership has included Dr. McKnight. I am glad she's saying she'll get all these issues fixed now, but she has never taken any responsibility for the years of failures that occurred under her watch.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The IG report this month is very disturbing. Walker worked in an office that mishandled, ignored, and lost HR complaints regularly. And the school district was warned repeatedly about this and did nothing. The county council is holding a joint hearing to examine this on February 8. This is serious dereliction of duty. MCPS leadership ignored the problem for years.[/quote]

Yes, and since 2019 that leadership has included Dr. McKnight. I am glad she's saying she'll get all these issues fixed now, but she has never taken any responsibility for the years of failures that occurred under her watch. [/quote]

For some complaints, there’s an opportunity to appeal MCPS decisions to the Board. The Board has had a bad habit of rubber stamping MCPS decisions which supported MCPS ignoring complaints. The Board was complicit. They are responsible for the oversight of MCPS but the Board didn’t do their job.

[Anonymous]

Great news! Alexandra's fantastic reporting got Khalid Walker, who bravely spoke out about the leadership who made him change Joel's investigation findings, has been reinstated to his old position: https://moco360.media/2024/01/26/mcps-investigator-who-alleged-retaliation-is-restored-to-former-position-he-says/

Walker told MoCo360 that he would return to his former job on Monday. “I am looking forward to returning to DCI,” he said. “The recent OIG report highlighted many issues that some of us in the office had voiced concerns about for a long time. I am very much looking forward to participating in making all of the recommended changes.”

This is a good start. It's a shame that we have to use the media to change MCPS, but change is happening at least.

[Anonymous]

Listen now to WAMU to hear MoCo Council member Jwando. On till 1pm.

[Anonymous]

I’ll feel better if they fired April Key, who was one of the principal people there who retaliated against Walker. She is still listed as Chief of Human Resources and Development. She should be suspended, at the least, or fired and pushed out the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll feel better if they fired April Key, who was one of the principal people there who retaliated against Walker. She is still listed as Chief of Human Resources and Development. She should be suspended, at the least, or fired and pushed out the door.

Yes what is the story there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll feel better if they fired April Key, who was one of the principal people there who retaliated against Walker. She is still listed as Chief of Human Resources and Development. She should be suspended, at the least, or fired and pushed out the door.

Yes what is the story there?

She's only been at MCPS for about 6 months, after they had a long vacancy in that position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll feel better if they fired April Key, who was one of the principal people there who retaliated against Walker. She is still listed as Chief of Human Resources and Development. She should be suspended, at the least, or fired and pushed out the door.

Yes what is the story there?

She's only been at MCPS for about 6 months, after they had a long vacancy in that position.

So one of the first things she did was retaliate against Walker??? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great news! Alexandra's fantastic reporting got Khalid Walker, who bravely spoke out about the leadership who made him change Joel's investigation findings, has been reinstated to his old position: https://moco360.media/2024/01/26/mcps-investigator-who-alleged-retaliation-is-restored-to-former-position-he-says/

Walker told MoCo360 that he would return to his former job on Monday. “I am looking forward to returning to DCI,” he said. “The recent OIG report highlighted many issues that some of us in the office had voiced concerns about for a long time. I am very much looking forward to participating in making all of the recommended changes.”

This is a good start. It's a shame that we have to use the media to change MCPS, but change is happening at least.

I wouldn’t call this good news. He was the one not investigating some complaints and not following up when witnesses revealed additional instances of misconduct. His transfer was punitive, as was his overall treatment. But there’s no way he should stay in his job. Paid leave until they work out an exit or another position is more appropriate here.

[Anonymous]

April Key didn’t do this on her own initiative, though. She was no doubt ordered to come down hard on Walker. So how far does this go up the chain of command?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:April Key didn’t do this on her own initiative, though. She was no doubt ordered to come down hard on Walker. So how far does this go up the chain of command?

The only people above her are Hull and McKnight.