MCPS Hires Nancy Navarro to Clean Up Its Messes and Fix Its Relationship Problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?page=showrelease&preview=1&id=13349

Superintendent Monifa McKnight today announced that former Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro is joining the Montgomery County Public Schools leadership team as Senior Advisor for External Affairs in the Office of the Superintendent.

Navarro served 13 years on County Council, where she represented District 4 and served as Council President multiple times. Navarro is also a former elected member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, where she served as both President and Vice President.

Navarro’s new role will focus on advancing the priorities of the Board of Education and the school system’s key priorities by fostering positive relationships with external partners, engaging in outreach to community stakeholders and collaborating with our Community of Practice as they recommend essential corrective actions across the system.

“Nancy brings exceptional skill and a record of policymaking in Montgomery County on issues that we are now confronting,” Dr. McKnight said. “I look forward to working with her to deepen our relationships across the district that will help us instill respect and compassion in the citizens of tomorrow, achieve excellence for all of MCPS students, and provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

While I think someone in MCPS needs to do this work, given that she was entrenched in the school board before, I'm not sure if she's part of the problem or the solution. But she probably can't make things worse than they already are. And she's a Hispanic woman and MCPS desperately needs more Hispanic representation in its leadership ranks so....

Is she one of the councilmembers who could care less about academics and only cares about equity?

Yes, she's all about equity and has 0 interest in education. I'm progressive and all, but this stuff is a fool's errand. I guess it ends up hurting all students equally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5 unfilled positions at my school that have a direct impact on student well-being and achievement. No subs, ever. Yet mcps continues to funnel money into central positions that I repeat, DO NOT support or impact students. It’s such a disgrace and beyond disappointing.

The situation at my school is not as bad. But we have 1st year teachers already planning to leave teaching. The disrespect and lack of support for teachers is terrible. Meanwhile central office spends it time virtue signaling and promoting itself to higher positions.

McKnight is giving Navarro salary and benefits of $359,000, a car, a credit card and an expense account.

BS. McKnight's own salary is less than that.

https://moco360.media/2023/02/07/top-20-highest-paid-mcps-employees-of-2022/

That is only salary. No benefits or other compensation. Maybe hold off on cursing until you learn what total compensation includes.

Maybe hold off on posting before there is evidence that some anonymous rando isn't just anonymously making up numbers?

Said the anonymous troll.

MCPS administrators are well compensated, get cars,credit cards and expense accounts. Put on your big girl pants and open your eyes. There is nothing unique about Navarro’s compensation package.

This is obviously someone who doesn’t understand how corporate credit cards and expense accounts work. They aren’t slush funds. You can’t just buy whatever you want. And most administrators don’t get cars like personal use. They get a county car for travel around the county and to work related things because it removes the liability of someone using their own personal vehicle and there is no need to reimburse people for mileage. And clearly Navarronisn’t going to be on staff with a higher salary than the Superintendent.

Except everytime there's some kind of audit of MCPS turns out they were a slush fund and being abused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

I think this position is specifically about helping to repair MCPS's broken relationships with the County Council and the County Executive. Given that she's a former councilmember and insider of MoCo govt, I believe Monifa and MCPS believe Nancy is uniquely positioned to help smooth things over with those entities specifically, who have not been shy about saying they have unproductive, uncommunicative relationships with MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

I think this position is specifically about helping to repair MCPS's broken relationships with the County Council and the County Executive. Given that she's a former councilmember and insider of MoCo govt, I believe Monifa and MCPS believe Nancy is uniquely positioned to help smooth things over with those entities specifically, who have not been shy about saying they have unproductive, uncommunicative relationships with MCPS.

I mean, that sounds like something that could be handled by hiring an individual or firm as a consultant. Kind of the way MCPS has outside law firms handle specific items of need on an as-needed basis. It does not seem to rise to the level of full time job in addition to the other full time Sr. Community Advisor in my opinion and certainly does not require executive level compensation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

I think this position is specifically about helping to repair MCPS's broken relationships with the County Council and the County Executive. Given that she's a former councilmember and insider of MoCo govt, I believe Monifa and MCPS believe Nancy is uniquely positioned to help smooth things over with those entities specifically, who have not been shy about saying they have unproductive, uncommunicative relationships with MCPS.

I mean, that sounds like something that could be handled by hiring an individual or firm as a consultant. Kind of the way MCPS has outside law firms handle specific items of need on an as-needed basis. It does not seem to rise to the level of full time job in addition to the other full time Sr. Community Advisor in my opinion and certainly does not require executive level compensation.

Yes, but Nancy is unemployed and needs a cushy place to land and probably wouldn't mind having benefits so....hence the full-time offer.

But yes, this absolutely could have been accomplished via a consulting relationship but hey, I think we all know about how the backscratching goes in government with doling out positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

I think this position is specifically about helping to repair MCPS's broken relationships with the County Council and the County Executive. Given that she's a former councilmember and insider of MoCo govt, I believe Monifa and MCPS believe Nancy is uniquely positioned to help smooth things over with those entities specifically, who have not been shy about saying they have unproductive, uncommunicative relationships with MCPS.

I mean, that sounds like something that could be handled by hiring an individual or firm as a consultant. Kind of the way MCPS has outside law firms handle specific items of need on an as-needed basis. It does not seem to rise to the level of full time job in addition to the other full time Sr. Community Advisor in my opinion and certainly does not require executive level compensation.

Yes, but Nancy is unemployed and needs a cushy place to land and probably wouldn't mind having benefits so....hence the full-time offer.

But yes, this absolutely could have been accomplished via a consulting relationship but hey, I think we all know about how the backscratching goes in government with doling out positions.

It could also be accomplished by, ya know, not allowing MCPS leadership and staff to be such a nightmare that the Council and Executive have had to distance themselves from them. Classic Dr. McKnight move - do something so poorly that you then throw money to fix it by hiring a spin machine rather than working on the root problem (e.g. hiring PR firms to handle “crisis communications”).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5 unfilled positions at my school that have a direct impact on student well-being and achievement. No subs, ever. Yet mcps continues to funnel money into central positions that I repeat, DO NOT support or impact students. It’s such a disgrace and beyond disappointing.

THIS

MCPS is a mess and Central Office is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

[Anonymous]

Yes, there is a Senior Community Advisor

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20220623.html

We have hired Ms. Elba Garcia as Senior Community Advisor, who will maintain and coordinate with partners, stakeholders and community leaders.

I wonder what Ms. Elba Garcia new position will be.

Anonymous wrote:There is already an employee that was hired last year whose role is Senior Community Advisor, whose job description sounds essentially the same as this one. Is this person still in this position? Do we need two highly paid central office folks to do this job, which essentially sounds like highly-paid schmoozing in the community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

The notion she was involved with the Biedleman situation is total speculation. What is true is she has decades of experience working for the Council and, rightly or wrongly, is highly respected by the people who work with her. Nobody was doing her a favor by hiring her. The Council was lucky she came back.

Marlene’s retirement continues the brain drain the council staff has seen over the last few years, in which a large number of very experienced people have left. Compounded by term limits, the institutional knowledge in the building is in a state of decay. Over time, this shifts the balance of power to the executive branch, which far outnumbers the legislative branch and controls the day-to-day working of government. It also increases the chances that the council will repeat mistakes of the past, mistakes that could be avoided with a proper appreciation of history.

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2023/08/29/council-executive-director-announces-retirement/#:~:text=He%20or%20she%20is%20the%20council%E2%80%99s%20chief%20adviser,other%20bodies%3B%20and%20oversees%20the%20central%20council%20staff.

As to the former BOE Chief of Staff, the fact that two councilmembers have hired him as their chief of staff suggests maybe he's actually good in that role. Unlike the position being offered to Navarro, the chief of staff roles are pretty important and challenging roles (whether you are willing to accept that or not). If a Chief of Staff is ineffective they will be replaced as they do not have union protections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

The county council loves Navarro.

The county council put an mcps administrator and boe chief of staff on their payroll when those two needed jobs.
It is part of the club to keep each other employed.

I agree that the Council is unlikely to do anything about this (mostly because they have no authority over MCPS hiring, but also because they probably don't want to). As far as hiring MCPS people, if you're referring to the two people I think you're referring to, one had worked for the Council for decades before working as an MCPS administrator for a brief period and went back to the same job they were doing before, and the other was hired by Navarro herself. It's not corruption to hire people with experience in the County. That being said, the job the BOE is giving Navarro is highly suspect and is reminiscent of the whole Craig Rice debacle which the Council actually did speak out against and I think they would have blocked it if he hadn't stepped down from consideration.

The County Council funds MCPS and has total control.

PP uses the word “brief” to describe working for MCPS fir 4 yearso as a top administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS including HR when Beidleman allegations started coming in. Now she advises the Council on education issues. Issues she created and covered up.

The other BOE chief of staff is still at the Council and also was privy to Beidleman allegations when at BOE. He now works for Councilmember Laurie Anne Sayles.

Neither have recused themselves from Beidleman review.

Lots of people have county experience but only a handful have been in closed session BOE meetings. Both of these people have and it is unethical for them to now be at the Council.

And another Councilmember employs the daughter-in-law of a current BOE member.

In a county of a million people how is it there is such a tiny pool of people that can work for the Council?

McGuire was the Associate Superintendent of Operations beginning in 2020, but that did not include being in charge of HR. At the time the Office of Human Resources and Development reported directly to the deputy superintendent, i.e. Monifa McKnight. The restructuring was laid out here:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-2020/mcps-restructure-20200210.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I hope county council sees what a sham this is and laughs in their faces. Why does McKnight always need to hire someone else to do her job? How much is this costing the system?

Not a chance. The County Council likes Navarro and will happily support any additional money that gets funneled into Central Office.