Whitman Teacher and Crew Coach Arrested

[Anonymous]

I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. Could someone row on this team that wasn't a student from Whitman? Shipley was also a teacher at Whitman.

There may be other connections in place that weren't covered in the article. On other school club teams that I know of, the school athletic director attends board meetings and coach performance reviews. The same may be true at Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post story today was pretty damning

The story was largely told from the point of view of just-graduated and alum rowers and their families.

Perhaps colleges and scholarships were a driving force for them in rowing.

But that is not true of the parents or kids I know on the current team.

I want to know more about the current "team" - from the article it seemed like the girls were on their own. Who is going out in the launch with them now? Who is setting the practice routines? Who holds the insurance?

Former high school (and college scholarship) female rower here -- it is a sport filled with a$$hole male coaches who are manipulative and abusive, even if not sexually. The bnest ones I have had were married with families - I would be wary of any unmarried male coach over the age of 25 at this point. I am very proud of the rowers who wrote the letter and called him out for everything. The parents/board should be ashamed - it was like their own private little club.

And to those who said "find another team" - it's not that easy. You have to have boat house and water access and equipment and practice schedules that fit with travel and school schedules. If you really love the sport, it is often hard to find another team. That's the kicker that keeps so many athletes stuck in not great situations - it's not like rec soccer.

Many of the current team members have been at TBC this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. Could someone row on this team that wasn't a student from Whitman? Shipley was also a teacher at Whitman.

There may be other connections in place that weren't covered in the article. On other school club teams that I know of, the school athletic director attends board meetings and coach performance reviews. The same may be true at Whitman.

DP - the crew team is not affiliated with the school. Whitman AD had no oversight over the crew team or coach performance review. They have their own board who oversees all of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. Could someone row on this team that wasn't a student from Whitman? Shipley was also a teacher at Whitman.

There may be other connections in place that weren't covered in the article. On other school club teams that I know of, the school athletic director attends board meetings and coach performance reviews. The same may be true at Whitman.

DP - the crew team is not affiliated with the school. Whitman AD had no oversight over the crew team or coach performance review. They have their own board who oversees all of that.

Yes, this is correct. I went on their webpage and their powerpoint even states there is no funding or operational support from MCPS. This is just a private club (like any of the zillion soccer clubs around here) that happens to have Whitman in its name.

Whitman Crew is a club sport.
} We are entering our 32nd year
} Whitman Crew is competitive at the highest levels nationally
} Whitman Crew is operated by an all-volunteer parent board.
} We receive no funding or operational support from MCPS
} We operate from program fees and fundraisers
} We own our own assets by way of our boats (shells), oars,
boat trailer, chuck wagon (trailer to get supplies and food to
our rowers at regattas)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. Could someone row on this team that wasn't a student from Whitman? Shipley was also a teacher at Whitman.

There may be other connections in place that weren't covered in the article. On other school club teams that I know of, the school athletic director attends board meetings and coach performance reviews. The same may be true at Whitman.

DP - the crew team is not affiliated with the school. Whitman AD had no oversight over the crew team or coach performance review. They have their own board who oversees all of that.

So. It's still a Whitman team with a Whitman teacher and the school was informed of the coach/teacher bad behavior. Bad behavior of a teacher does not have to happen on school grounds for an investigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if Shipley was considered a good teacher. It seems unlikely he put much thought or effort into teaching if crew took up so much of his time year round. Before school and after school. He seemed to live and breathe crew

I had him as a teacher 18 years ago for AP Euro back in 2003. A decent teacher, not the most engaging lecturer and sometimes phoned it in but I still retain a lot of what he taught. You know, "Joan of Arc was barbecued" and Martin Luther had "95 theses and 95 feces," or the significance of Disraeli and Gladstone, stuff that has still stuck with me.

In hindsight and years of life experience there were red flags back then.

He definitely had his favorites, (all teachers do), the crew kids got special treatment, especially the girls.
He would sometimes have crew kids over to his house and I think he would reach out to them personally.
He had a chummy relationship with some students, but back then he was in his early 30s and only a decade older than seniors so it didnt seem as weird.

That said, when I found out this summer what happened, lets just say I wasnt surprised, 15 year old me sensed something that remained dormant until this summer.

Wow! That is interesting that you were not shocked or surprised. Seems like he was a bit creepy towards girls even back then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if Shipley was considered a good teacher. It seems unlikely he put much thought or effort into teaching if crew took up so much of his time year round. Before school and after school. He seemed to live and breathe crew

I had him as a teacher 18 years ago for AP Euro back in 2003. A decent teacher, not the most engaging lecturer and sometimes phoned it in but I still retain a lot of what he taught. You know, "Joan of Arc was barbecued" and Martin Luther had "95 theses and 95 feces," or the significance of Disraeli and Gladstone, stuff that has still stuck with me.

In hindsight and years of life experience there were red flags back then.

He definitely had his favorites, (all teachers do), the crew kids got special treatment, especially the girls.
He would sometimes have crew kids over to his house and I think he would reach out to them personally.
He had a chummy relationship with some students, but back then he was in his early 30s and only a decade older than seniors so it didnt seem as weird.

That said, when I found out this summer what happened, lets just say I wasnt surprised, 15 year old me sensed something that remained dormant until this summer.

I hesitate to call it creepy since from the perspective of a kid in his class it was just stuff I heard on the side. Knowing what I know now both about grooming and from life, I think he was laying the groundwork by giving out his cell phone number and having crew kids go to his P Street house.

I am interested in hearing from people with more recent interactions?

Also what role does the school and MCPS have here? It is unlikely that all of the predation and grooming occurred solely off school grounds? At least it appears Alan Goodwin didn’t perform an overt coverup. I would be sad if he did.


Wow! That is interesting that you were not shocked or surprised. Seems like he was a bit creepy towards girls even back then.

[Anonymous]

Formatting error:

I hesitate to call it creepy since from the perspective of a kid in his class it was just stuff I heard on the side. Knowing what I know now both about grooming and from life, I think he was laying the groundwork by giving out his cell phone number and having crew kids go to his P Street house.

I am interested in hearing from people with more recent interactions?

Also what role does the school and MCPS have here? It is unlikely that all of the predation and grooming occurred solely off school grounds? At least it appears Alan Goodwin didn’t perform an overt coverup. I would be sad if he did.

[Anonymous]

If he'd done that to my child I'd have castrated him, personally.

[Anonymous]

This is a private club but its for Whitman students (or students nearby). Blair, I believe, also has a club open to downcountry.

But, the school is involved as is MCPS as he worked for MCPS/school.

The entire board should be fired and replaced.

[Anonymous]

Was he teaching AP Euro this year. Sucks for his students as I imagine they now have a sub.
I’m not condoning what he did. He clearly needs to be in jail. It is a messy situation all around including fall out for his students. Im guessing he wrote college recommendations for some kids this year and maybe has other ones still due. What a sad mess. I hope MCPS wakes up

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the Blair crew team is like. Is it also not affiliated with Blair the school- just uses its name? Why does MCPS allow this? Are there other sports like this? Springbrook Bowling? Poolesville Ping Pong? What’s the history son these clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why mcps allows these clubs to use the name of its high schools. The teams are run by parents and funded by parents and in no way are affiliated with the school. They are private clubs - going forward MCPS should require all the clubs to change their names and state clearly they are not affiliated with the school. There are plenty mcps teachers who coach other sports for private clubs outside of school - none of those clubs are named after the high school and there is no confusion about whether MCPS has a role to play.

The entire format of the club is ripe for this type of thing to happen. The cost alone automatically creates an exclusive environment and expectations. When the Varsity Blues scandal broke, I automatically thought about these teams. Knowing folks who have had kids row at Whitman, it always seemed like it was a way for kids who don't play varsity sports to round out their resumes for college. The required year round participation just seemed like a ridiculous gimmick.

I agree with your points except that I think you’ve over-generalized in connecting this to the Varsity Blues scandal. It’s true that both situations involved affluent parents who were (perhaps not all in the case of Whitman crew) very focused on a college admissions boost; they also both involved a corrupt gatekeeper to college opportunities. But the Whitman kids, like all kids who are in this kind of rowing program, worked incredibly hard at their sport for an ungodly amount of time each year. Each of them fully deserved whatever credit a college admissions committee gives to kids who participate seriously in a sport, regardless of whether they all excelled at it. The whole crew scene sounds strange and unhealthy to me, but I’m impressed by the kids with the discipline to do it and don’t want to see anyone lump them in with the Varsity Blues frauds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^one other point: the Whitman crew parent's defense of "we just couldn't imagine it" is like what Joe Paterno said in defending his continued support of Jerry Sandusky well after he knew about the allegations. That is, he just couldn't conceive as possible. And again: if you are a parent with oversight of children, *it is your job* to educate yourself and to force yourself to consider these kinds of scenarios. Mandated reporters don't get to say they just couldn't believe something could happen, so they ignored the signs. Ignorance is a poor defense.

I am the Whitman crew parent, and I think you are over-spinning what I said.
But I take your point.

Know that one is trying to get off the hook here.

Meantime, the board has offered free counseling services to current and former rowers (and maybe their families--I'm not positive about that).
The counseling is being paid for with donations.
Maybe you have suggestions for what else the team could do.

The board that provided protection for an abuser... do I have a suggestion? Yes! I have a suggestion, fire every.single.person.on.the.board.

Hire and investigator to find out what they knew and when.

Report the HR person who "cleared" the coach and find out what type of relationship they had with the board/coach.


I wouldn't waste the money to hire an investigator was lets be real, no one is going to hold anyone accountable but the board and everyone involved or who had knowledge should be fired.

I think our team is being held held to account.

We have been largely closed since early summer.

The Post article certainly cast us in a stark, if skewed, light.

I only hope the publicity will make it harder for Shipley and his reportedly very skilled lawyer to beat the charges.

Anyone can see that we face a likely lawsuit(s) by the victims who reported Shipley to the police.

We've all been held to account by angry parents of a graduated rower in a post-arrest team meeting. Seventy-plus people, including kids on the line, listened to them at length.

But at some point, those who decry bullying risk crossing the line into self-aggrandizing rancor.

Some of the crew kids have experienced this online and in real life. (Fortunately, they have taken it in stride.)

At an all-Whitman zoom call on child sexual abuse prevention, a social worker--not on the panel-- chimed in only to castigate the Whitman crew team in front of the entire group.

Her demeanor and approach contrasted sharply with that of the professionals on the panel, and the moderators moved quickly to shut things down.