The OIG finds that Biedleman violated MCPS policies and code of conduct

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Statement from the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

December 1, 2023
The investigative report about Dr. Joel Beidleman released today by the Montgomery County Inspector General clearly and professionally documents years of disturbing and egregious behavior. The report finds that this behavior indisputably violated both MCPS policies and the Employee Code of Conduct.

As I’ve said since this issue came to our attention this summer, I will take swift, decisive action based on investigative findings. Now that the OIG has referred this matter to me, I am moving forward without delay to ensure that wrongdoing is held to full account.

It is crucial that every MCPS employee, student, and parent know that any type of abusive behavior will not be tolerated. It’s why I’ve been working diligently with my team — joined by a diverse group of local and national experts, staff, and other critical stakeholders from across the MCPS community — in developing and implementing our aggressive and comprehensive action plan: To rebuild trust, ensure no one is failed by our system, and to make clear that harassment, bullying, intimidation, and retaliation have absolutely no place in the MCPS community. Ensuring a safe and positive work environment for our staff means a safe and positive environment for our students to learn, and that is our main focus and commitment.

We await word on who else besides Beidleman will be fired.

He is not going to be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so the OIG finds that MCPS violated its own policies on numerous occasions but then turns it right back over to…..MCPS? They are the ones who tried to sweep it under the rug!

The OIG doesn't have authority to do more.

MCPS doesn’t have OIG, in any real or normal sense of the word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the meantime the best people in the system have fled.

Along with the families. Frederick County is seeing the largest population shift in state history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This man was clearly setup and clearly ran the school with success. The teachers weren’t happy because they are disgruntled with mcps in general. Was Beidleman innocent? No
Let’s look at all of the facts in these results. Most of this was done off school grounds and after hours. Most of these statements from staff are so juvenile that I thought I was reading statements from children. The fact that Jane Doe admitted she had a sexual relationship with Beidleman to me throws the case out the window and let’s move onto the next. These people are adults right? Does the school hire people with some type of disability where they feel they are still children and therefore conduct themselves as such? Jane Doe had a mutual relationship and is now retaliating because she found her next prey and wanted to move on. Both were married both had affairs both worked at the school and both knew they violated the code of conduct and both didn’t care. As for the hiring of the assistant principal they conclude Beidleman was not part of the hiring process and she couldn’t even show text messages because something was wrong with her phone. I wouldn’t even look at this case if I was a judge. I wouldn’t even bother with this nonsense and pure disgruntled group of women with no clear facts. Throw this whole case away and let mcps move on. These women clearly want money to pay off their loads of debt and rebuild their lives from men leaving them and their children. Wake up people!

Two things can be true simultaneously. He kept the school running. But he also abused those who he had power over. How dare you blame anyone who was a victim of his clear abuse. But you - you need some serious introspection. I don’t know what you are trying to do coming here and victim blaming. She was always his subordinate. How dare he think it would be professionally appropriate to pursue any type of physical relationship. If you work for MCPS you should be ashamed of yourself It’s becoming very clear all the “equity” and “anti-bias” training we as “insubordinate” staff have to complete and abide by is just a smoke screen to keep eyes off of the real corruption embedded within the culture of MCPS. I thought I hit the jackpot when I got hired as an educator here. Now? I wish I could take this organization off my resume. I do not want to be associated with this abusive and toxic culture filled with people with your mindset in power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so the OIG finds that MCPS violated its own policies on numerous occasions but then turns it right back over to…..MCPS? They are the ones who tried to sweep it under the rug!

Yes and the OIG even revealed financial fraud by Beidleman. The Washington Post did not have that piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Things are a mess in MCPS right now. McKnight told principals at a meeting earlier this week that there's nothing she could do to alleviate the poor morale among staff right now. She blamed the scandal and events going on in the world as reasons why her school staff are miserable. There continues to be no self-reflection.

Schools are drowning right now with added responsibilities due to low staffing but central office "instructional specialist" positions seem to be multiplying like Gremlins who got wet after midnight.

Is Monifa responsible for anything? She can't alleviate poor staff morale? She is the one setting the toxic tone that has crashed morale. What is wrong with the BOE? When are they going to take the steps to move a school district in the right direction. The ship is sinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS's past M.O. has been to promote problematic employees so that they can go somewhere else outside the system. Here, it will be difficult to do that.

Yes, these problem people end up in the Human Resources department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Statement from the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

December 1, 2023
The investigative report about Dr. Joel Beidleman released today by the Montgomery County Inspector General clearly and professionally documents years of disturbing and egregious behavior. The report finds that this behavior indisputably violated both MCPS policies and the Employee Code of Conduct.

As I’ve said since this issue came to our attention this summer, I will take swift, decisive action based on investigative findings. Now that the OIG has referred this matter to me, I am moving forward without delay to ensure that wrongdoing is held to full account.

It is crucial that every MCPS employee, student, and parent know that any type of abusive behavior will not be tolerated. It’s why I’ve been working diligently with my team — joined by a diverse group of local and national experts, staff, and other critical stakeholders from across the MCPS community — in developing and implementing our aggressive and comprehensive action plan: To rebuild trust, ensure no one is failed by our system, and to make clear that harassment, bullying, intimidation, and retaliation have absolutely no place in the MCPS community. Ensuring a safe and positive work environment for our staff means a safe and positive environment for our students to learn, and that is our main focus and commitment.

What this post is missing is that the email she sent to staff went on to talk about reading scores. It’s like she thinks we’re too stupid to notice.

Time for her to leave

Here is the rest of the post. Way to change the subject Monica - as if these student performance stats are something to be proud of.

Our focus remains on a positive culture for teaching and learning.
Ensuring a safe and positive work environment for our staff means a safe and positive environment for our students to learn. That is our main focus and commitment. To that end, earlier today, we also shared a press release discussing the gains we have seen in early literacy at the beginning of this year.

For example:
The fall 2023 DIBELS assessment results indicate progress in students' foundational reading skills. A greater percentage of students scored at or above benchmark compared to fall 2022. Specifically, 49.9% of kindergarten students, 58.0% of Grade 1 students, and 60.4% of Grade 2 students achieved at or above benchmark status.
Improvement is happening with students at or above benchmark by racial group in 2022 versus 2023 as well and is as follows: 75.9% vs. 77.4% Asian, 56.4% vs. 61.5% Black or African American, 28.6% vs. 34.6% Hispanic/Latino, 64.7% vs. 69.9% Two or More Races, and 65.8% vs. 68.6% White.
It takes all of us—as teachers, administrators, and support professionals—to get early literacy right. And it benefits our upper elementary school, middle school, and high school colleagues when we do. Indeed, we should all celebrate these gains.

When we focus on this sort of progress in early literacy, we focus on our main objective —teaching and learning. And there is so much joy, connection and accomplishment to celebrate in the classrooms where teaching and learning occurs, as well as at our bus stops, warehouses, theater stages, dance floors, and educational athletic fields.

As we eagerly anticipate the holiday season, let's choose to lift each other up in the busy days ahead—let’s celebrate our successes, and continue to tell the stories of our collective successes.

I look forward to visiting your schools and offices soon.

Thank you for all you do every day.

In Partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Statement from the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

December 1, 2023
The investigative report about Dr. Joel Beidleman released today by the Montgomery County Inspector General clearly and professionally documents years of disturbing and egregious behavior. The report finds that this behavior indisputably violated both MCPS policies and the Employee Code of Conduct.

As I’ve said since this issue came to our attention this summer, I will take swift, decisive action based on investigative findings. Now that the OIG has referred this matter to me, I am moving forward without delay to ensure that wrongdoing is held to full account.

It is crucial that every MCPS employee, student, and parent know that any type of abusive behavior will not be tolerated. It’s why I’ve been working diligently with my team — joined by a diverse group of local and national experts, staff, and other critical stakeholders from across the MCPS community — in developing and implementing our aggressive and comprehensive action plan: To rebuild trust, ensure no one is failed by our system, and to make clear that harassment, bullying, intimidation, and retaliation have absolutely no place in the MCPS community. Ensuring a safe and positive work environment for our staff means a safe and positive environment for our students to learn, and that is our main focus and commitment.

What this post is missing is that the email she sent to staff went on to talk about reading scores. It’s like she thinks we’re too stupid to notice.

Time for her to leave

Here is the rest of the post. Way to change the subject Monica - as if these student performance stats are something to be proud of.

Our focus remains on a positive culture for teaching and learning.
Ensuring a safe and positive work environment for our staff means a safe and positive environment for our students to learn. That is our main focus and commitment. To that end, earlier today, we also shared a press release discussing the gains we have seen in early literacy at the beginning of this year.

For example:
The fall 2023 DIBELS assessment results indicate progress in students' foundational reading skills. A greater percentage of students scored at or above benchmark compared to fall 2022. Specifically, 49.9% of kindergarten students, 58.0% of Grade 1 students, and 60.4% of Grade 2 students achieved at or above benchmark status.
Improvement is happening with students at or above benchmark by racial group in 2022 versus 2023 as well and is as follows: 75.9% vs. 77.4% Asian, 56.4% vs. 61.5% Black or African American, 28.6% vs. 34.6% Hispanic/Latino, 64.7% vs. 69.9% Two or More Races, and 65.8% vs. 68.6% White.
It takes all of us—as teachers, administrators, and support professionals—to get early literacy right. And it benefits our upper elementary school, middle school, and high school colleagues when we do. Indeed, we should all celebrate these gains.

When we focus on this sort of progress in early literacy, we focus on our main objective —teaching and learning. And there is so much joy, connection and accomplishment to celebrate in the classrooms where teaching and learning occurs, as well as at our bus stops, warehouses, theater stages, dance floors, and educational athletic fields.

As we eagerly anticipate the holiday season, let's choose to lift each other up in the busy days ahead—let’s celebrate our successes, and continue to tell the stories of our collective successes.

I look forward to visiting your schools and offices soon.

Thank you for all you do every day.

In Partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This man was clearly setup and clearly ran the school with success. The teachers weren’t happy because they are disgruntled with mcps in general. Was Beidleman innocent? No
Let’s look at all of the facts in these results. Most of this was done off school grounds and after hours. Most of these statements from staff are so juvenile that I thought I was reading statements from children. The fact that Jane Doe admitted she had a sexual relationship with Beidleman to me throws the case out the window and let’s move onto the next. These people are adults right? Does the school hire people with some type of disability where they feel they are still children and therefore conduct themselves as such? Jane Doe had a mutual relationship and is now retaliating because she found her next prey and wanted to move on. Both were married both had affairs both worked at the school and both knew they violated the code of conduct and both didn’t care. As for the hiring of the assistant principal they conclude Beidleman was not part of the hiring process and she couldn’t even show text messages because something was wrong with her phone. I wouldn’t even look at this case if I was a judge. I wouldn’t even bother with this nonsense and pure disgruntled group of women with no clear facts. Throw this whole case away and let mcps move on. These women clearly want money to pay off their loads of debt and rebuild their lives from men leaving them and their children. Wake up people!

Thank you for your comments, Joel.

[Anonymous]

Wait a minute - are they saying another investigation is taking place? As long as he is being investigated he is still employed and drawing a nice paycheck correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’ll be sharing an office with the former Damascus principal soon, I’m sure.

Along with the former Wheaton principal who everyone seems to have forgotten about. Is he still drawing a salary as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This man was clearly setup and clearly ran the school with success. The teachers weren’t happy because they are disgruntled with mcps in general. Was Beidleman innocent? No
Let’s look at all of the facts in these results. Most of this was done off school grounds and after hours. Most of these statements from staff are so juvenile that I thought I was reading statements from children. The fact that Jane Doe admitted she had a sexual relationship with Beidleman to me throws the case out the window and let’s move onto the next. These people are adults right? Does the school hire people with some type of disability where they feel they are still children and therefore conduct themselves as such? Jane Doe had a mutual relationship and is now retaliating because she found her next prey and wanted to move on. Both were married both had affairs both worked at the school and both knew they violated the code of conduct and both didn’t care. As for the hiring of the assistant principal they conclude Beidleman was not part of the hiring process and she couldn’t even show text messages because something was wrong with her phone. I wouldn’t even look at this case if I was a judge. I wouldn’t even bother with this nonsense and pure disgruntled group of women with no clear facts. Throw this whole case away and let mcps move on. These women clearly want money to pay off their loads of debt and rebuild their lives from men leaving them and their children. Wake up people!

Two things can be true simultaneously. He kept the school running. But he also abused those who he had power over. How dare you blame anyone who was a victim of his clear abuse. But you - you need some serious introspection. I don’t know what you are trying to do coming here and victim blaming. She was always his subordinate. How dare he think it would be professionally appropriate to pursue any type of physical relationship. If you work for MCPS you should be ashamed of yourself It’s becoming very clear all the “equity” and “anti-bias” training we as “insubordinate” staff have to complete and abide by is just a smoke screen to keep eyes off of the real corruption embedded within the culture of MCPS. I thought I hit the jackpot when I got hired as an educator here. Now? I wish I could take this organization off my resume. I do not want to be associated with this abusive and toxic culture filled with people with your mindset in power.

Who is to say that she did not pursue the sexual relationship? Didn’t you read that she sent him pics of herself in the bathtub. This isn’t a child or am I mistaken? This is a grown woman sending her boss sex pics…Right is right and wrong is wrong. Let’s look at the whole picture here.
Where is Munsey while we are at it? Why is Beidleman such a big deal? Munsey has been on admin leave for over a year still getting paid. Where is the uproar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the meantime the best people in the system have fled.

This. They've lost lots of talented people at all levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slap on the wrist for Mr. B. Quiet transfer to Central.

It’s well known in MCPS that bad teachers become principals and bad principals move into central office. The Superintendent included.