Montoya is not fit for office

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really concerned about the regional model because it seems so rushed. What makes them think they can hire qualified teachers for all these specialties? They already cannot hire qualified computer science or language teachers. And when they tried to expand the IB program it was an utter failure because it turns out you can’t snap your fingers and have qualified IB teachers. They r got a “if you build it, they will come” attitude that just seems to me to be magical thinking. The races of the kids involved have no bearing on my concern - I just think this whole thing seems like something dreamed up for an ed PhD thesis without any concept of how it will work in practice or whether it will improve outcomes.

After 15 years in McPS, my conclusion is that what the system needs is (in this order): 1) smaller class sizes especially for classes teaching reading and writing; 2) the best teachers money, and respect (which is sometimes worth more than money) will buy; 3) adequate planning and grading time for teachers — I would trade off instructional time for this!!!!; 4) consistent curriculum that doesn’t chase trends; 5) increased in school security for MS and HS so disruptive kids are in the halls or bathrooms; and 6) physical plant improvements so kids aren’t boiling/freezing/dodging rats.

We are wasting time and money chasing dumb educational trends instead of fixing what’s broken.

Bolded is what also got teachers union to question the regional model proposal as well. But BOE blew them off too.

Taylor seems to think all schools already have qualified teachers. The model is based on assumptions and I suspect likely to fail if implemented in its current iteration. Of course all this vote did was dismantle the DCC and NEC with a plan to create some sort of to be developed regional model. I'm not really sure why Wolff and Montoya are so convinced that eliminating the consortiums is good for the families they claim to care about.

Even if they have the teachers they don’t have enough teachers or the resources.

[Anonymous]

It is best to get out of ANY job when you become spiteful and resentful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is best to get out of ANY job when you become spiteful and resentful

That's just who these parents are. It's their identities, not their jobs. Couldn't you hear them during the meeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really concerned about the regional model because it seems so rushed. What makes them think they can hire qualified teachers for all these specialties? They already cannot hire qualified computer science or language teachers. And when they tried to expand the IB program it was an utter failure because it turns out you can’t snap your fingers and have qualified IB teachers. They r got a “if you build it, they will come” attitude that just seems to me to be magical thinking. The races of the kids involved have no bearing on my concern - I just think this whole thing seems like something dreamed up for an ed PhD thesis without any concept of how it will work in practice or whether it will improve outcomes.

After 15 years in McPS, my conclusion is that what the system needs is (in this order): 1) smaller class sizes especially for classes teaching reading and writing; 2) the best teachers money, and respect (which is sometimes worth more than money) will buy; 3) adequate planning and grading time for teachers — I would trade off instructional time for this!!!!; 4) consistent curriculum that doesn’t chase trends; 5) increased in school security for MS and HS so disruptive kids are in the halls or bathrooms; and 6) physical plant improvements so kids aren’t boiling/freezing/dodging rats.

We are wasting time and money chasing dumb educational trends instead of fixing what’s broken.

Bolded is what also got teachers union to question the regional model proposal as well. But BOE blew them off too.

Taylor seems to think all schools already have qualified teachers. The model is based on assumptions and I suspect likely to fail if implemented in its current iteration. Of course all this vote did was dismantle the DCC and NEC with a plan to create some sort of to be developed regional model. I'm not really sure why Wolff and Montoya are so convinced that eliminating the consortiums is good for the families they claim to care about.

He never said qualified. He said certified. Teacher certifications can cover a large range of courses (I.e. music PreK-12). Also, MSDE allows teachers to teach outside their content area for 3 consecutive years. Here’s an example at an MCPS MS where I was on staff: Engineering electives were taught by a social studies teacher for 3 consecutive years followed by a media specialist (librarian coming from ES) for 3 consecutive years. Teachers can also get provisional licenses for several years and districts can issue emergency licenses.

We can all look up our kids current teachers’ certifications. You’ll see many are fialky certified in multiple content areas, special Ed and administration. They likely did it for a pay bump, but MCPS can move people around to meet the district’s needs

Even at Blair SMCS, there is a CS teacher barely knows coding. But he uses the curriculum from his predecessor, a very experienced magnet CS teacher, and the students can self teach using the curriculum and team up to learn. Cohort matters. I cannot imagine how this curriculum can be successfully implemented outside of the magnet if the teacher just knows the “if else” statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is best to get out of ANY job when you become spiteful and resentful

That's just who these parents are. It's their identities, not their jobs. Couldn't you hear them during the meeting?

The problem is she is talking in a public event as a public figure. Public figure needs to be held accountable for what they say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is best to get out of ANY job when you become spiteful and resentful

That's just who these parents are. It's their identities, not their jobs. Couldn't you hear them during the meeting?

people are much calmer when they feel there is sound leadership in place

[Anonymous]

I say this as someone who voted for Montoya… she has completely lost me. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Montoya may have the best of intentions for the regional program (I think it’ll make things worse), but her flippant attitude of calling everyone who disagrees with her a racist unfortunately points to what a lot of folks have been saying. She doesnt care for your opinion if you don’t agree. That’s not true community engagement. She is willing and fully committed to dismissing anyone who disagrees on anything, even people who want the same ultimate goal but disagree on the best way of getting there. Worst of all, she will call you a racist as a weapon.

I am truly beyond disgusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who voted for Montoya… she has completely lost me. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Montoya may have the best of intentions for the regional program (I think it’ll make things worse), but her flippant attitude of calling everyone who disagrees with her a racist unfortunately points to what a lot of folks have been saying. She doesnt care for your opinion if you don’t agree. That’s not true community engagement. She is willing and fully committed to dismissing anyone who disagrees on anything, even people who want the same ultimate goal but disagree on the best way of getting there. Worst of all, she will call you a racist as a weapon.

I am truly beyond disgusted.

The special programs will fail without funding and staffing. Nothing to do with race and she’s racist if she supports it as there is going to be bigger divides without the DCC and families will leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who voted for Montoya… she has completely lost me. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Montoya may have the best of intentions for the regional program (I think it’ll make things worse), but her flippant attitude of calling everyone who disagrees with her a racist unfortunately points to what a lot of folks have been saying. She doesnt care for your opinion if you don’t agree. That’s not true community engagement. She is willing and fully committed to dismissing anyone who disagrees on anything, even people who want the same ultimate goal but disagree on the best way of getting there. Worst of all, she will call you a racist as a weapon.

I am truly beyond disgusted.

The special programs will fail without funding and staffing. Nothing to do with race and she’s racist if she supports it as there is going to be bigger divides without the DCC and families will leave.

That’s what is most upsetting. I agree with Montoya’s goal of more equity is a good thing, but the regional program won’t bring that. To then call everyone a racist for questioning why we’re getting rid of DCC and implementing some insane program is not befitting of an elected official.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like the behaviors you described, but I am more concerned about the BOE being incompetent and refusing to ask tough questions of the Superintendent. Ultimately I think this stems from their low stipends and lack of independent staff. I'll happily vote for alternative candidates that aren't hateful, especially if they support more physical books and learning with pencil and paper. But honestly I don't think much will change until the BOE has more resources to provide actual oversight of the Superintendent.

More money would not help. She works for Mcps.

I have never seen or heard that Montoya works for MCPS. Where are you getting this from?

She gets paid a small salary and excellent benefits from MCPS.


She has unreflected racial beliefs and that is a problem for an elected leader. I heard her hot mic comments last night. She appears bigoted against Asian American communities in my opinion. She does not know history.

+1 Nothing else is there to see.

Can you say more? I get people don’t like being called racist, but what did she say that shows she is bigoted against Asian people?

She gave information on the demographics of the current magnets and said a vote to preserve them was racist, not because she thinks there should be fewer Asians at them but because she thinks there should be more seats overall so that more kids have access. Totally fair to be skeptical that will work, but I am not understanding the overwhelming response that she was being racist.

I think the argument is that it is racist to send rich white and asian kids to school with hispanic kids.

Her kids are in NCC, and pipeline to BCC.. her kids will go to school with the rich kids... she has no clue whats going on down the road from her.

She has older kids in special programs outside the cluster and has a weird vendetta against B-CC. She seems to really hate it. Yes, lots of rich kids at B-CC, but also lots of lower-income families as well. I bet the kids in the program her kids go to are rich, too, because that’s who’s sending their kids to those programs. And it’ll continue to be like that with the regional model.

What's interesting is that she has declared to parents that she will never send her kids to Silver Creek, which is a diverse school. She just seems to be a pretty bitter person.

Does she ever give a reason? We’ve had a great experience at Silver Creek. Active, diverse community, great teachers, great administrators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who voted for Montoya… she has completely lost me. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Montoya may have the best of intentions for the regional program (I think it’ll make things worse), but her flippant attitude of calling everyone who disagrees with her a racist unfortunately points to what a lot of folks have been saying. She doesnt care for your opinion if you don’t agree. That’s not true community engagement. She is willing and fully committed to dismissing anyone who disagrees on anything, even people who want the same ultimate goal but disagree on the best way of getting there. Worst of all, she will call you a racist as a weapon.

I am truly beyond disgusted.

The special programs will fail without funding and staffing. Nothing to do with race and she’s racist if she supports it as there is going to be bigger divides without the DCC and families will leave.

That’s what is most upsetting. I agree with Montoya’s goal of more equity is a good thing, but the regional program won’t bring that. To then call everyone a racist for questioning why we’re getting rid of DCC and implementing some insane program is not befitting of an elected official.

She has no clue whats going on at the school level as if she thinks this is equity, I wonder what she defines as equity, same with the other BOE members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is best to get out of ANY job when you become spiteful and resentful

That's just who these parents are. It's their identities, not their jobs. Couldn't you hear them during the meeting?

people are much calmer when they feel there is sound leadership in place

i.e., people who agree with them.

It was a near-unanimous vote, with only the board member most geographically and culturally associated with the protestors voting against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who voted for Montoya… she has completely lost me. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Montoya may have the best of intentions for the regional program (I think it’ll make things worse), but her flippant attitude of calling everyone who disagrees with her a racist unfortunately points to what a lot of folks have been saying. She doesnt care for your opinion if you don’t agree. That’s not true community engagement. She is willing and fully committed to dismissing anyone who disagrees on anything, even people who want the same ultimate goal but disagree on the best way of getting there. Worst of all, she will call you a racist as a weapon.

I am truly beyond disgusted.

The special programs will fail without funding and staffing. Nothing to do with race and she’s racist if she supports it as there is going to be bigger divides without the DCC and families will leave.

That’s what is most upsetting. I agree with Montoya’s goal of more equity is a good thing, but the regional program won’t bring that. To then call everyone a racist for questioning why we’re getting rid of DCC and implementing some insane program is not befitting of an elected official.

+1 she makes a mockery of anti-racism. She's not the only one who does that, but it is really frustrating to see how many people in power are willing weaponize anti-racism to pursue their own agenda that does nothing to advance equity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like the behaviors you described, but I am more concerned about the BOE being incompetent and refusing to ask tough questions of the Superintendent. Ultimately I think this stems from their low stipends and lack of independent staff. I'll happily vote for alternative candidates that aren't hateful, especially if they support more physical books and learning with pencil and paper. But honestly I don't think much will change until the BOE has more resources to provide actual oversight of the Superintendent.

More money would not help. She works for Mcps.

I have never seen or heard that Montoya works for MCPS. Where are you getting this from?

She gets paid a small salary and excellent benefits from MCPS.


She has unreflected racial beliefs and that is a problem for an elected leader. I heard her hot mic comments last night. She appears bigoted against Asian American communities in my opinion. She does not know history.

+1 Nothing else is there to see.

Can you say more? I get people don’t like being called racist, but what did she say that shows she is bigoted against Asian people?

She gave information on the demographics of the current magnets and said a vote to preserve them was racist, not because she thinks there should be fewer Asians at them but because she thinks there should be more seats overall so that more kids have access. Totally fair to be skeptical that will work, but I am not understanding the overwhelming response that she was being racist.

Anyone not agreeing with her becomes a racist then. People suport and oppose many things without ever thinking about race.

Vote to oppose faulty and rushed implementation is not really vote to exclude any race from getting admission. Drawing that conclusion seems absurd to me. She is a bigot for calling any group supporting or opposing an action of BOE. I am not an Asian, but I can see that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like the behaviors you described, but I am more concerned about the BOE being incompetent and refusing to ask tough questions of the Superintendent. Ultimately I think this stems from their low stipends and lack of independent staff. I'll happily vote for alternative candidates that aren't hateful, especially if they support more physical books and learning with pencil and paper. But honestly I don't think much will change until the BOE has more resources to provide actual oversight of the Superintendent.

More money would not help. She works for Mcps.

I have never seen or heard that Montoya works for MCPS. Where are you getting this from?

She gets paid a small salary and excellent benefits from MCPS.


She has unreflected racial beliefs and that is a problem for an elected leader. I heard her hot mic comments last night. She appears bigoted against Asian American communities in my opinion. She does not know history.

+1 Nothing else is there to see.

Can you say more? I get people don’t like being called racist, but what did she say that shows she is bigoted against Asian people?

She gave information on the demographics of the current magnets and said a vote to preserve them was racist, not because she thinks there should be fewer Asians at them but because she thinks there should be more seats overall so that more kids have access. Totally fair to be skeptical that will work, but I am not understanding the overwhelming response that she was being racist.

Anyone not agreeing with her becomes a racist then. People suport and oppose many things without ever thinking about race.

Vote to oppose faulty and rushed implementation is not really vote to exclude any race from getting admission. Drawing that conclusion seems absurd to me. She is a bigot for calling any group supporting or opposing an action of BOE. I am not an Asian, but I can see that as well.

If you think her issue if with "anyone not agreeing with her" then it doesn't sound like you think she is biased against Asians.