Indictment of MCPS bus driver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Now we know to be extremely aware of the red flags. And REPORT. Not your job to wait for evidence. Professionals will investigate and evaluate.

And what are the red flags?

Anything remotely creepy. You know.

This stuff is always clearer in hindsight. One of my former middle school teachers (yes, he was MCPS) was arrested a little over a decade ago and served prison time for molestation. Based on what he pleaded guilty to, he was abusing boys when I had him. Everyone was going on and on about how they always knew he was a creep, how could nobody have done anything, etc. etc. No, we didn't know any such thing. He was a friendly guy and a very popular teacher and we were all gobsmacked when we heard the news. In hindsight, some friendly behaviors took on a much more sinister tinge, but nobody knew what he truly was before that point. What, we should have reported him for being male and nice?

I thought this article (by Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker) was an excellent piece on abusers' behaviors and tactics. Your comment on how this teacher was friendly and popular reminded me of the article--it mentions how abusers are often friendly and popular figures of authority like teachers.
"In Plain View: How Child Molesters Get Away With It"
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/24/in-plain-view

A long (and tough) but eye-opening and solid article....recommended reading for everyone here...

Thank you for sharing the article.
It's a must-read for every parent.

It says:

"Children with vigilant parents are too risky."

Beware people, you need to become well-known as one of those VERY vigilant parents. It could help spare your child from becoming the next sexual assault victim.

"Better safe, than sorry."

Defi itself a good reminder.

I'm the PP who posted this and I'm glad others appreciated the article. Since I first read it, I've heard now and then of other instances that confirm what you wrote--for example a tutor testing the boundaries with a parent (asking to teach child in room away from other people, etc.) and when the parent refused, the tutor quit--and later turned out to be an abuser.

Even if you aren't "well-known" to be a vigilant parent, just demonstrating consistently vigilant behavior will go a long way, as abusers can sense it. Sadly, they move on to other victims who are easier; that said, nothing wrong with also being vigilant on behalf of another child if you sense that something's amiss and the parent/guardian isn't at the scene or isn't as vigilant.

Anyways, please read, share, to understand the patterns, and trust your gut if something seems off--and show the other adult that you are paying attention. Also, teach your kids that
1) it's OK for them to tell you about any situation/person that makes them uncomfortable,
2) that this applies even if they can't put their finger on something that is obviously wrong,* and
3) that it's possible that someone might tell them that "they [children] will get in trouble/hurt for telling their parents"; this is really just a trick that bad people would use to get kids not to tell, and it's not true that they'd get in trouble for telling.
Unfortunately, I imagine that some parents of the special needs children in the recent bus driver case may not have been able to have this kind of discussion with their children. But for those of us who can have these conversations with their kids, SN or not, I hope you can.

*In summer swim team (as a 9yo) I had a coach tell me something that made me feel weird (about me being pretty), and I quit that day. My mom could not understand why I quit suddenly and I did not feel I could explain. I did not have the language or context to understand why it made me feel uncomfortable so I said nothing, but just wanted to avoid that person completely from then on. I'm not sure what I would have wanted my mom to do, either, as it wasn't a lecherous/sexual comment. So this is why I think it's useful to explain to kids that if something makes them feel uncomfortable, that is valid and you'll respect that, even if they're not able to pinpoint why what the other person did/said was explicitly wrong. I think abusers get their entry points by using grey areas.

Thank you PP for posting. As a parent who watched a child change so dramatically before coming forward to report what was happening on a MCPS sports team, abruptly quitting something a child used to love to do is a huge sign something is wrong. We reported what we knew including my child's testimony of why he was scared and evidence of grooming behavior by a coach but MCPS did nothing. For my child's safety, my child is no longer in MCPS. I am afraid everyday that this pervert will just move on to another victim since the MCPS line in the sand is only to remove an employee when there is a criminal arrest.

Parents - please be vigilant.

Thank you so much for your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we know to be extremely aware of the red flags. And REPORT. Not your job to wait for evidence. Professionals will investigate and evaluate.

And what are the red flags?

Anything remotely creepy. You know.

This stuff is always clearer in hindsight. One of my former middle school teachers (yes, he was MCPS) was arrested a little over a decade ago and served prison time for molestation. Based on what he pleaded guilty to, he was abusing boys when I had him. Everyone was going on and on about how they always knew he was a creep, how could nobody have done anything, etc. etc. No, we didn't know any such thing. He was a friendly guy and a very popular teacher and we were all gobsmacked when we heard the news. In hindsight, some friendly behaviors took on a much more sinister tinge, but nobody knew what he truly was before that point. What, we should have reported him for being male and nice?

I thought this article (by Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker) was an excellent piece on abusers' behaviors and tactics. Your comment on how this teacher was friendly and popular reminded me of the article--it mentions how abusers are often friendly and popular figures of authority like teachers.
"In Plain View: How Child Molesters Get Away With It"
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/24/in-plain-view

A long (and tough) but eye-opening and solid article....recommended reading for everyone here...

Thank you for sharing the article.
It's a must-read for every parent.

[Anonymous]

Now that’s election year, politicians are more open to “listen”. I hit every politician that came by with the topic. Write and hold them accountable and force them to take a public position on this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that’s election year, politicians are more open to “listen”. I hit every politician that came by with the topic. Write and hold them accountable and force them to take a public position on this

+ 1,000,000

[Anonymous]

You would think with the number of MCPS employees reported to CPS and the number of employees arrested every school year that every local and state politicians should be talking about this issue. What is MCPS dping to prevent child abuse in their schools?

[Anonymous]

Staff training doesn't make a child predator to stop their deviant urges. Progressive discipline only gives them more opportunities to abuse child victims. MCPS isn't doing enough to keep all children safe.

Was the bus driver an employee previously reported? Was children hurt because of progressive discipline? We at least know a camera wasn't enough to stop him from hurting 4 children multiple times because no one in MCPS checks the video.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if fired drivers go on to drive for commercial or municipal passenger fleets. Just learned someone I know is a sex offender is driving for Lyft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if fired drivers go on to drive for commercial or municipal passenger fleets. Just learned someone I know is a sex offender is driving for Lyft.

Being fired will not prevent a person from getting a nonschool job. It wouldn't even stop a bus driver from getting a job at another public school.

Child Protective Services records of a finding of child abuse is only searchable in the state of the finding. CPS could sanction a person in DC but that person would have a clean background check in Maryland and Virginia.

Criminal records are searchable in all 50 states. MCPS failed to consistently check as news outlets reported a year ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if fired drivers go on to drive for commercial or municipal passenger fleets. Just learned someone I know is a sex offender is driving for Lyft.

Being fired will not prevent a person from getting a nonschool job. It wouldn't even stop a bus driver from getting a job at another public school.

Child Protective Services records of a finding of child abuse is only searchable in the state of the finding. CPS could sanction a person in DC but that person would have a clean background check in Maryland and Virginia.

Criminal records are searchable in all 50 states. MCPS failed to consistently check as news outlets reported a year ago.

I highly recommend doing a judicial case search on all your kids' teachers. No one else is!

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when the next SEAC meeting is? An update to parents is expected at that meeting.

[Anonymous]

I am hoping parents are keeping informed as to the recent arrests of two MCPS Employees that worked with students with special needs. Dr. Smith is tentatively scheduled to attend the September 27th SEAC meeting and hopefully he can bring answers to how MCPS is going to do a better job protecting children from child predators. Parents with children who came in contact with these men during the course of their employment also need proper notification of these arrests.

This is the upcoming meeting schedules. I urge parents to attend.

From Montgomery County Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

Attention Parents/Guardians of Students with Special Needs

Please attend our SEAC meetings held at:

Carver Educational Services Center 850 Hungerford Drive (North entrance)
Rockville, Maryland 20850
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m
September 27, 2018 .............. Auditorium
October 25, 2018........ Room 134
December 20, 2018* .............. Auditorium
January 24, 2019 ........Room 134
February 28, 2019.. ...Auditorium
March 28, 2019....... ...Auditorium
April 25, 2019.....Auditorium
May 23, 2019… Auditorium

Connect with other parents/guardians of students with special needs
> Dialogue with special education administrators
> Learn about topics of interest
> Child care is available during the meetings

For more information, visit our website at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/seac/

*Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jack R. Smith is tentatively scheduled to attend.