Board wants Monifa to step down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

That was surprisingly awkward considering it was arranged by McKnight and her lawyer.

It doesn’t surprise me that she has hired such an obviously and laughably bad attorney.

Yup. She's really been bad at hiring good people, in multiple ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty obvious from that start that she wasn’t up to the job

I really, really liked her in the beginning. But even without this scandal she's made MCPS into a joke.

MCPS has been a joke long before her, don’t kid yourself. No final exams, no LCs for unex abesences, 50% rule, grade inflation, retaking of test. List goes on and on. It’s been declining probably for 15 years now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

She's not the problem and should fight this tooth and nail. She has done an amazing job despite all the crazy posts by the failed board candidates that are out for her head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

+1 her reaction to all of this just highlights why she has to go. Poor judgment, ineffective leader, laser focus only on what’s best for her, let alone the dishonesty and ethical shortcomings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

She's not the problem and should fight this tooth and nail. She has done an amazing job despite all the crazy posts by the failed board candidates that are out for her head.

Is that sarcasm? Last week alone is enough to justify getting rid of her. Forget the scandals, she can't even manage the facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

She's not the problem and should fight this tooth and nail. She has done an amazing job despite all the crazy posts by the failed board candidates that are out for her head.

+2000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

She's not the problem and should fight this tooth and nail. She has done an amazing job despite all the crazy posts by the failed board candidates that are out for her head.

Is that sarcasm? Last week alone is enough to justify getting rid of her. Forget the scandals, she can't even manage the facilities.

I don't blame her for scandals that went on under her predecessor, but the tin-foil hat crowd that has been out for her head since day one sure does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fox5 needs better fact checking. Beidleman wasn’t “going to be” the principal at PB, he actually was the principal for a month! He was the opening speaker at the July RT training and set up individual private meetings with PB staff. That was a creepy request to read on email.

A 1 on 1 meeting is not a creepy invite on email. Plenty of people have them with their boss. Stop the drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

+1000. This toxic failure needs to be separated from MCPS as soon as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://x.com/allisonpapson/status/1749993072153256430?s=46&t=VdI4RenOrHVV8qT8bniHxg


Interview w Dr. McKnight and her attorney

Sweet merciful crap that was painful. And not a good look for her. Or her bumbling attorney. No idea why she is insisting on scorching the earth like this. I know it is going to be hard for her to find work in the ed field again with this scandal attached to her, but at this point her own PR “strategy” is turning future work into an impossibility.

False
She will immediately have a new job. Fired superintendents are no big deal in education.

If she had agreed to leave, sure. Quietly fired superintendents are no big deal. But that's not this. If even 75% of the anonymously sourced items are true, McKnight personally witnessed JB's bad behavior, was well aware of it before he was promoted, directed her team to engage in a cover-up, lied directly to the BoE's faces about what she knew, and then participated in the harassment of the original whistle-blowers.

Every school board in American will know that this could be them, and for what? Is she so incredible and irreplaceable that they'd roll the dice on being in the same position? I can see picking up a superintendent who you could convince yourself was misunderstood by their previous BoE, or who had impeccable educational bona fide and experience. But, again. that's not Dr. McKnight.

Honestly, she's been badly advised but you can also see where her impulse to "dig in" is at its worst in this situation. There was a time about six months ago when she could have come out and said "Yes, I'd heard the rumors and I'd seen him engage in some drunken escapades when we were all young. I thought he'd outgrown those days, and I saw value in providing an opportunity for redemption to a Black man who had found Jesus and was ready to be a role model to the youth of PBHS."

If she'd done that - talked about loyalty and redemption, she'd have a wall of pastors behind her at last night's event. She didn't because she chose cover-up and obfuscation.

She's not the problem and should fight this tooth and nail. She has done an amazing job despite all the crazy posts by the failed board candidates that are out for her head.

Is that sarcasm? Last week alone is enough to justify getting rid of her. Forget the scandals, she can't even manage the facilities.

I don't blame her for scandals that went on under her predecessor, but the tin-foil hat crowd that has been out for her head since day one sure does.

Yes, people have been out to get her since before she was even named superintendent. MCEA was just waiting for a nice, juicy scandal to point to. And they got it.

Still, regardless of when the bad acts started, how they continued and have been handled under her has been a serious problem. And that's not even getting into fundamental management failures around basic operations of the school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty obvious from that start that she wasn’t up to the job

I really, really liked her in the beginning. But even without this scandal she's made MCPS into a joke.

MCPS has been a joke long before her, don’t kid yourself. No final exams, no LCs for unex abesences, 50% rule, grade inflation, retaking of test. List goes on and on. It’s been declining probably for 15 years now.

You can point to 2016 when they hired the waste of space that is Jack Smith. That was the beginning of the end for MCPS and it's never coming back.

[Anonymous]

McKnight is leaving. Whether today, a year from now or when her contract is up, is to be seen. All the BOE can do is try to save some face or claw back the narrative. That way they’ll still be able to get some quality candidates for the next search. Something that is already going to be hard given the past history of dealing with Supers, the size of the district, and what folks in industry have heard about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is leaving. Whether today, a year from now or when her contract is up, is to be seen. All the BOE can do is try to save some face or claw back the narrative. That way they’ll still be able to get some quality candidates for the next search. Something that is already going to be hard given the past history of dealing with Supers, the size of the district, and what folks in industry have heard about it.

It sounds like McKnight's main beef with the board, according to the Fox 5 exclusive she sat down for, is that she's being asked to resign before her term is over, which she says is unlike what has happened to her male predecessors.

SOURCE: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-superintendent-dr-monifa-mcknight-breaks-silence-amidst-boards-request-for-her-resignation

She is the first woman to be the superintendent of MCPS and feels she is being treated differently than the men who have come before her because they were able to finish their term despite any high-profile incidents that came to light.

So it sounds like she's fine with not having her contract renewed, but not ok with being pushed out prematurely. This aligns with some of the chatter that was going around that she only viewed the MCPS superintendent role as a stepping stone in a larger political career ambition. She never cared to do a good job. She just cares about how it looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty obvious from that start that she wasn’t up to the job

I really, really liked her in the beginning. But even without this scandal she's made MCPS into a joke.

MCPS has been a joke long before her, don’t kid yourself. No final exams, no LCs for unex abesences, 50% rule, grade inflation, retaking of test. List goes on and on. It’s been declining probably for 15 years now.

What is it about being able to retake maybe one or two tests per quarter that makes everyone so upset? Most classes have no retakes. Math offers 1 or 2.
Did you know Fairfax is letting students retake every test that they don’t get an A on the first time? Every math test. I thought it was a joke when my friends told me. I told her if my kid gets a C on a math test, the C stands.
Talk about hyperinflation of grades!