Board Fires Dr. McKnight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the main issue with her leadership? I haven’t followed this at all.

This summarizes it well:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/02/02/monifa-mcknight-leaving-montgomery-schools-superintendent/

Aside from promoting the awful guy to principal, what else is so bad from this article? You’re all making it out like she was a monster. I feel like all the former superintendents have been hated and called worthless. Is there anyone people will like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A million thank yous to Alexandra Robbins and Nicole Asbury. This would not have happened without your steadfast, continuous, and absolutely fabulous effort to bring the truth to light. This shows why local journalism is so critical. We are indebted to you!!

YES!

Alexandra Robbins is MOCO WOMAN OF THE YEAR in my book.

Amazing work. A superintendent vanquished by a sub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's how I see it.

Giant school districts are always "plagued by scandals" and sexual harassment claims. Often for cause. Nothing extraordinary happened on Dr. McKnight's watch that didn't happen before. Except recovering from covid.

So, the black woman took a job that no one else wanted at an impossible time, shepherded the MoCo school system through it, wanted to keep her job after... And some yahoos at Fox, happily continuing their work to dismantle public education, decided she was a soft target to rally the base.

I don't have any particular opinion about McKnight's competence or lack thereof. But this smells like a political hit job, and the way the posters here talk about her: using her first name (which by the way, Jeff, you could have stopped a lot earlier), referring to her with usual coded words you people like to use to talk about women, especially Black women... And the way you're nominating these two cut-rate journalists for "breaking a story" that you can't even explain?

Yeah. This is a hit job. You people are gross, and we've all seen this play before.

+1000

I think there have been some significant structural changes and shifting of focus behind the scenes in MCPS that were necessary and are just starting to show progress. There is real organizational skill needed to make process improvement a real thing in a district our size, and I think Dr. McKnight has been a good leader in this regard.

Most of the high profile stories that people want to vilify Dr. McKnight about aren’t things she caused, but rather are things she needed to react to. It’s easy to second guess how things should have been handled in each situation, but managing PR crises is a different skill set than managing a school system.

In the age of social media it seems like MCPS needs someone who is both a great showman and a skilled manager, but I think that’s two entirely different skill sets and I don’t think we are going to find such a person.

[Anonymous]

Shout out to the staff that went ahead and reached out to the reporters since MCPS tried to bury the story about promoting Biedleman. Because of them, we are here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the main issue with her leadership? I haven’t followed this at all.

This summarizes it well:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/02/02/monifa-mcknight-leaving-montgomery-schools-superintendent/

Aside from promoting the awful guy to principal, what else is so bad from this article? You’re all making it out like she was a monster. I feel like all the former superintendents have been hated and called worthless. Is there anyone people will like?

Did you miss when a black boy was shot in one of her schools, which was a first in MCPS history, and she botched the communications and operation so badly that the community rebelled and demanded MCPS do a debrief with them on what went wrong and how they'll do better?

Here let me refresh you:

https://wjla.com/news/local/mcps-montgomery-county-public-schools-colonel-zadok-magruder-high-school-shooting-dr-mcknight-steven-alston-jr-after-action-report-addendum-review

https://wjla.com/news/local/magruder-high-school-derwood-shooting-student-bathroom-montgomery-county-public-schools-lockdown-police-officers-mcknight

https://moco360.media/2022/03/25/magruder-students-say-shooting-changed-us-urge-more-mental-health-services/

https://theblackandwhite.net/74263/news/one-year-after-shooting-magruder-hs-parents-remain-frustrated-with-mcps-officials/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shout out to the staff that went ahead and reached out to the reporters since MCPS tried to bury the story about promoting Biedleman. Because of them, we are here.

100%. Thank you all for your courage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandra robbins we need you to investigate what’s happening at Travilah elementary!!!

Teachers leaving in DROVES, front office admins who have been there for 20 years retired early, teachers have been trying to get help from union and BOE alleging hostile work environment, walking on eggshells around angry and demanding principal who drowns them in paperwork and creates a miserable work environment, written up for anything that happens including encouraging teachers to speak up dj things are going wrong.
We are seriously worried as parents about our wonderful school, teachers are afraid and they are leaving and teachers are our treasure and our MVPS, we need them supported and cared for!!!

I am so sad to read this. It used to be such a wonderful school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's how I see it.

Giant school districts are always "plagued by scandals" and sexual harassment claims. Often for cause. Nothing extraordinary happened on Dr. McKnight's watch that didn't happen before. Except recovering from covid.

So, the black woman took a job that no one else wanted at an impossible time, shepherded the MoCo school system through it, wanted to keep her job after... And some yahoos at Fox, happily continuing their work to dismantle public education, decided she was a soft target to rally the base.

I don't have any particular opinion about McKnight's competence or lack thereof. But this smells like a political hit job, and the way the posters here talk about her: using her first name (which by the way, Jeff, you could have stopped a lot earlier), referring to her with usual coded words you people like to use to talk about women, especially Black women... And the way you're nominating these two cut-rate journalists for "breaking a story" that you can't even explain?

Yeah. This is a hit job. You people are gross, and we've all seen this play before.

+1000

I think there have been some significant structural changes and shifting of focus behind the scenes in MCPS that were necessary and are just starting to show progress. There is real organizational skill needed to make process improvement a real thing in a district our size, and I think Dr. McKnight has been a good leader in this regard.

Most of the high profile stories that people want to vilify Dr. McKnight about aren’t things she caused, but rather are things she needed to react to. It’s easy to second guess how things should have been handled in each situation, but managing PR crises is a different skill set than managing a school system.

In the age of social media it seems like MCPS needs someone who is both a great showman and a skilled manager, but I think that’s two entirely different skill sets and I don’t think we are going to find such a person.

This has to be a joke. But let's play, since it's comedy hour.

What structural change and what leadership skills did McKnight demonstrate in implementing said change that you're lauding her for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A million thank yous to Alexandra Robbins and Nicole Asbury. This would not have happened without your steadfast, continuous, and absolutely fabulous effort to bring the truth to light. This shows why local journalism is so critical. We are indebted to you!!

YES!

Alexandra Robbins is MOCO WOMAN OF THE YEAR in my book.

Amazing work. A superintendent vanquished by a sub.

I think she did great work on this, but you know this isn’t a sub taking down the superintendent, right? She’s a NYT bestselling author who probably only subbed as research for her book on teachers (fun fact: She’s a Whitman grad). https://alexandrarobbins.com/about/

Yes, I know. But still, she was a sub in MCPS's eyes.

[Anonymous]

Board needs to go with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's how I see it.

Giant school districts are always "plagued by scandals" and sexual harassment claims. Often for cause. Nothing extraordinary happened on Dr. McKnight's watch that didn't happen before. Except recovering from covid.

So, the black woman took a job that no one else wanted at an impossible time, shepherded the MoCo school system through it, wanted to keep her job after... And some yahoos at Fox, happily continuing their work to dismantle public education, decided she was a soft target to rally the base.

I don't have any particular opinion about McKnight's competence or lack thereof. But this smells like a political hit job, and the way the posters here talk about her: using her first name (which by the way, Jeff, you could have stopped a lot earlier), referring to her with usual coded words you people like to use to talk about women, especially Black women... And the way you're nominating these two cut-rate journalists for "breaking a story" that you can't even explain?

Yeah. This is a hit job. You people are gross, and we've all seen this play before.

+1000

I think there have been some significant structural changes and shifting of focus behind the scenes in MCPS that were necessary and are just starting to show progress. There is real organizational skill needed to make process improvement a real thing in a district our size, and I think Dr. McKnight has been a good leader in this regard.

Most of the high profile stories that people want to vilify Dr. McKnight about aren’t things she caused, but rather are things she needed to react to. It’s easy to second guess how things should have been handled in each situation, but managing PR crises is a different skill set than managing a school system.

In the age of social media it seems like MCPS needs someone who is both a great showman and a skilled manager, but I think that’s two entirely different skill sets and I don’t think we are going to find such a person.

Let me summarize all of these posts from McKnight apologists. All the bad stuff she’s being blamed for is not her fault and is stuff she had to react to. All the good stuff happening in MCPS can be directly tied back to her skills and vision. She just was bad at publicly showing everyone how great of a job she was doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's how I see it.

Giant school districts are always "plagued by scandals" and sexual harassment claims. Often for cause. Nothing extraordinary happened on Dr. McKnight's watch that didn't happen before. Except recovering from covid.

So, the black woman took a job that no one else wanted at an impossible time, shepherded the MoCo school system through it, wanted to keep her job after... And some yahoos at Fox, happily continuing their work to dismantle public education, decided she was a soft target to rally the base.

I don't have any particular opinion about McKnight's competence or lack thereof. But this smells like a political hit job, and the way the posters here talk about her: using her first name (which by the way, Jeff, you could have stopped a lot earlier), referring to her with usual coded words you people like to use to talk about women, especially Black women... And the way you're nominating these two cut-rate journalists for "breaking a story" that you can't even explain?

Yeah. This is a hit job. You people are gross, and we've all seen this play before.

+1000

I think there have been some significant structural changes and shifting of focus behind the scenes in MCPS that were necessary and are just starting to show progress. There is real organizational skill needed to make process improvement a real thing in a district our size, and I think Dr. McKnight has been a good leader in this regard.

Most of the high profile stories that people want to vilify Dr. McKnight about aren’t things she caused, but rather are things she needed to react to. It’s easy to second guess how things should have been handled in each situation, but managing PR crises is a different skill set than managing a school system.

In the age of social media it seems like MCPS needs someone who is both a great showman and a skilled manager, but I think that’s two entirely different skill sets and I don’t think we are going to find such a person.

Let me summarize all of these posts from McKnight apologists. All the bad stuff she’s being blamed for is not her fault and is stuff she had to react to. All the good stuff happening in MCPS can be directly tied back to her skills and vision. She just was bad at publicly showing everyone how great of a job she was doing.

No. The PP had it right.

Y'all want a showman and a competent manager... rarely the same skill set, because to be a competent manager, you need to be doing a lot of work, not giving press release speeches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the main issue with her leadership? I haven’t followed this at all.

This summarizes it well:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/02/02/monifa-mcknight-leaving-montgomery-schools-superintendent/

Aside from promoting the awful guy to principal, what else is so bad from this article? You’re all making it out like she was a monster. I feel like all the former superintendents have been hated and called worthless. Is there anyone people will like?

Did you miss when a black boy was shot in one of her schools, which was a first in MCPS history, and she botched the communications and operation so badly that the community rebelled and demanded MCPS do a debrief with them on what went wrong and how they'll do better?

Here let me refresh you:

https://wjla.com/news/local/mcps-montgomery-county-public-schools-colonel-zadok-magruder-high-school-shooting-dr-mcknight-steven-alston-jr-after-action-report-addendum-review

https://wjla.com/news/local/magruder-high-school-derwood-shooting-student-bathroom-montgomery-county-public-schools-lockdown-police-officers-mcknight

https://moco360.media/2022/03/25/magruder-students-say-shooting-changed-us-urge-more-mental-health-services/

https://theblackandwhite.net/74263/news/one-year-after-shooting-magruder-hs-parents-remain-frustrated-with-mcps-officials/

There are so many things. Principals are resigning en masse. Morale is low. Violence in schools is up and the consequences/structures she has in place aren’t keeping kids safe. There was the whole bus driver fiasco where routes were routinely not covered last year and no timely communication, achievement and test scores are actually not up. She cherry picked some gains in reading for very young students but many schools dropped in their star ratings from last year to this year. She spent tons of time and money on the antiracism audit and there aren’t any measurable improvements or means to evaluate changes. Don’t forget the fiasco policy when students returned to school in the fall 2021 and healthy covid-negative kids were getting quarantined and excluded from school en masse for one positive in the classroom or grade who may not have been near them, or the fiasco policy where a school would shut for 2 weeks during omicron if they met some very low positivity threshold. And she had principals doing contact tracing. It’s like every idea that came from her office or top friends/chiefs was super half baked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's how I see it.

Giant school districts are always "plagued by scandals" and sexual harassment claims. Often for cause. Nothing extraordinary happened on Dr. McKnight's watch that didn't happen before. Except recovering from covid.

So, the black woman took a job that no one else wanted at an impossible time, shepherded the MoCo school system through it, wanted to keep her job after... And some yahoos at Fox, happily continuing their work to dismantle public education, decided she was a soft target to rally the base.

I don't have any particular opinion about McKnight's competence or lack thereof. But this smells like a political hit job, and the way the posters here talk about her: using her first name (which by the way, Jeff, you could have stopped a lot earlier), referring to her with usual coded words you people like to use to talk about women, especially Black women... And the way you're nominating these two cut-rate journalists for "breaking a story" that you can't even explain?

Yeah. This is a hit job. You people are gross, and we've all seen this play before.

+1000

I think there have been some significant structural changes and shifting of focus behind the scenes in MCPS that were necessary and are just starting to show progress. There is real organizational skill needed to make process improvement a real thing in a district our size, and I think Dr. McKnight has been a good leader in this regard.

Most of the high profile stories that people want to vilify Dr. McKnight about aren’t things she caused, but rather are things she needed to react to. It’s easy to second guess how things should have been handled in each situation, but managing PR crises is a different skill set than managing a school system.

In the age of social media it seems like MCPS needs someone who is both a great showman and a skilled manager, but I think that’s two entirely different skill sets and I don’t think we are going to find such a person.

Let me summarize all of these posts from McKnight apologists. All the bad stuff she’s being blamed for is not her fault and is stuff she had to react to. All the good stuff happening in MCPS can be directly tied back to her skills and vision. She just was bad at publicly showing everyone how great of a job she was doing.

No. The PP had it right.

Y'all want a showman and a competent manager... rarely the same skill set, because to be a competent manager, you need to be doing a lot of work, not giving press release speeches.

Kind of like when McKnight made the decision to keep students locked inside a school while sheltering in place so that she could get in front of cameras and give a news conference as the hero?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the main issue with her leadership? I haven’t followed this at all.

This summarizes it well:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/02/02/monifa-mcknight-leaving-montgomery-schools-superintendent/

Aside from promoting the awful guy to principal, what else is so bad from this article? You’re all making it out like she was a monster. I feel like all the former superintendents have been hated and called worthless. Is there anyone people will like?

Did you miss when a black boy was shot in one of her schools, which was a first in MCPS history, and she botched the communications and operation so badly that the community rebelled and demanded MCPS do a debrief with them on what went wrong and how they'll do better?

Here let me refresh you:

https://wjla.com/news/local/mcps-montgomery-county-public-schools-colonel-zadok-magruder-high-school-shooting-dr-mcknight-steven-alston-jr-after-action-report-addendum-review

https://wjla.com/news/local/magruder-high-school-derwood-shooting-student-bathroom-montgomery-county-public-schools-lockdown-police-officers-mcknight

https://moco360.media/2022/03/25/magruder-students-say-shooting-changed-us-urge-more-mental-health-services/

https://theblackandwhite.net/74263/news/one-year-after-shooting-magruder-hs-parents-remain-frustrated-with-mcps-officials/

There are so many things. Principals are resigning en masse. Morale is low. Violence in schools is up and the consequences/structures she has in place aren’t keeping kids safe. There was the whole bus driver fiasco where routes were routinely not covered last year and no timely communication, achievement and test scores are actually not up. She cherry picked some gains in reading for very young students but many schools dropped in their star ratings from last year to this year. She spent tons of time and money on the antiracism audit and there aren’t any measurable improvements or means to evaluate changes. Don’t forget the fiasco policy when students returned to school in the fall 2021 and healthy covid-negative kids were getting quarantined and excluded from school en masse for one positive in the classroom or grade who may not have been near them, or the fiasco policy where a school would shut for 2 weeks during omicron if they met some very low positivity threshold. And she had principals doing contact tracing. It’s like every idea that came from her office or top friends/chiefs was super half baked.

It's hard to pin all the blame for the stupid policies on her. If it had been up to Smith or Gayles, schools would have simply closed.