Rockville, MD – Educators throughout Montgomery County Public Schools are disgusted but not shocked by the revelations contained in the latest Office of the Inspector General report. The Inspector General (IG) states that the accusations of additional misconduct by administrators were not substantiated, but the IG also implies this was likely the case only because key people refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Honest, ethical leadership throughout the system is created by the tone and behavior demonstrated by the executive administration. We are dismayed that, according to the IG, a leader with knowledge regarding allegations provided “evasive answers” and “made the unlikely claim that they did not recall memorable events noted in the complaint.” The Board of Education must immediately institute policies recommended by the IG, requiring MCPS leaders to report misconduct and to participate fully in any investigations conducted by the employer.

This report is just the most recent evidence demonstrating MCPS executive leadership’s primary concerns are protecting one another and advancing their own careers. Meanwhile, they fail to provide those of us who work directly with students safe working conditions, free of bullying and harassment. Moreover, this inconclusive report gives us little reason to hope that these same administrators will be forthcoming with the truth when further questioned concerning other parts of the investigation.

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry. Without naming people it gets confusing. Is everyone saying that Dr. McKnight herself was the administrator who was being obviously evasive and couldn’t remember things one would have been very like to recall?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry. Without naming people it gets confusing. Is everyone saying that Dr. McKnight herself was the administrator who was being obviously evasive and couldn’t remember things one would have been very like to recall?

That would be quite the plot twist…but evasive answers does match her public track record….

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry. Without naming people it gets confusing. Is everyone saying that Dr. McKnight herself was the administrator who was being obviously evasive and couldn’t remember things one would have been very like to recall?

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry. Without naming people it gets confusing. Is everyone saying that Dr. McKnight herself was the administrator who was being obviously evasive and couldn’t remember things one would have been very like to recall?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea that administrators threw so many absolute ragers.

Only in MCPS. Such a gross system

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea that administrators threw so many absolute ragers.

We initiated an investigation to address the potential violations of policy, law and regulations as presented in the complaint. In so doing, we conducted interviews with the requisite MCPS employees, and obtained and analyzed responsive records. The written complaint, however, lacked important details such as dates, locations, and other potentially corroborating information, and the complainant ignored our multiple requests for an interview and additional information. Our attempts to corroborate the allegations were further hindered by an MCPS administrator who provided evasive answers to direct questions and made the unlikely claim that they did not recall memorable events noted in the complaint. MCPS’s Employee Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct) requires that employees “respond honestly to a work-related inquiry by MCPS, law enforcement, or other authorized investigative officials.”[1] Policy in this area should be strengthened to include a mandate that employees fully cooperate with investigations.

The Chief of MCPS’ Office of Human Resources and Development received accusations of alleged violations of policy by MCPS senior staff and administrators. For this reason, Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight directed her Chief of Staff to immediately inform the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and asked her office to investigate. The OIG did not find any violations of MCPS policy or regulations by those identified in the complaint. The complainant himself ignored repeated requests from the OIG to connect for information and an interview. We appreciate the very quick and thorough work of Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi and her team for looking into this matter and, as the report on the MCPS investigations process is finalized and released, we will continue to give full consideration to additional forthcoming recommendations, as our goal is always to ensure a safe teaching and learning environment for students and staff.