Anonymous
Post 06/21/2025 11:20     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:No horse in this race, but the defenses of this person seem very much from either her or her people.


If you only knew the way school systems work. There are many people who, having been in this field for a long time and become well-versed in a multitude of subjects, may prefer one program over another. If the program is successful and has proven results, there may be an opportunity to help promote it in another district, state, or elsewhere. Teachers, for example, often take jobs scoring assessments for other districts, or may offer tutoring services to STUDENTS. This is not always a conflict of interest as long as the individual stays within the parameters.

It is discouraging to see people speak as if they have the right to dictate what this lady does with her time, as if they own her. She reported her mistake herself, which means she has nothing to hide. Instead of the dog whistle language, just name what the REAL issue is...
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2025 01:43     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
She’s one of the administrators named in the complaint to the school board about not allowing holding kids back for kindergarten.

Apparently Ms Caruthers is really strict about following rules, unless it’s about herself. I’m sure parents would have had better luck hiring her as a consultant in the side. What’s the going rate these days? I’m sure it’s cheaper than a year in private kindergarten.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 21:25     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who the heck cares? How is a side job considered not being dedicated to her primary job? There are many DCPS employees who, because of their skill and talent, are hired or contracted to do other things. Who are you or anyone to say what another person should do with their time? This belief that you own another person is deeply rooted, and it sounds as if you need to do some deep reflecting and recognize your bias. Better yet, why not share with us what you do on your time, since you think that everyone is entitled to know? I'll wait.


She didn't do it on her own time and it overlapped with her official DCPS responsibilities. It put her in a conflicted position, she was double-billing for some hours, and she was using her Dc work email for outside work. Why are you defending all that?


It's not about defending it, but why advocate for firing--why isn't the fine (and this additional public scrutiny) enough for what appears to be a first time occurrence, with no adverse impacts to students (or staff) identified?


I wouldn’t count 16 hours as one occurrence. It wasn’t the first occurrence, it was the first time she got caught.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 19:12     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
No horse in this race but the defenses of this person seem very much from either her or her people.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 19:05     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She has also mandated her principals use/provided them with materials from her side hustle…


This. Conflict of interest.


DCPS has also mandated*
DCPS uses Relay and that is how Relay ends up trying to hire the employees they've trained at DCPS to work in a contract capacity elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 19:01     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who the heck cares? How is a side job considered not being dedicated to her primary job? There are many DCPS employees who, because of their skill and talent, are hired or contracted to do other things. Who are you or anyone to say what another person should do with their time? This belief that you own another person is deeply rooted, and it sounds as if you need to do some deep reflecting and recognize your bias. Better yet, why not share with us what you do on your time, since you think that everyone is entitled to know? I'll wait.


She didn't do it on her own time and it overlapped with her official DCPS responsibilities. It put her in a conflicted position, she was double-billing for some hours, and she was using her Dc work email for outside work. Why are you defending all that?


It's not about defending it, but why advocate for firing--why isn't the fine (and this additional public scrutiny) enough for what appears to be a first time occurrence, with no adverse impacts to students (or staff) identified?
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 09:06     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Adding...the ISS I've interacted with most is good at their job and has strong principles (the values kind, though some good principals too). Do you think they enjoy having lame colleagues?
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 09:00     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:This thread is wild. It begins with someone claiming an Instructional Supt makes “over $300K” which is blatantly false, and anyone doing 2 seconds of research sees that they make under $200K and less than many of their principals that they supervise. Then we get the “but her emails” crowd. How did that work out for us last time? We’re talking about a very, very small amount of money that SHE SELF-REPORTED leading to the follow up and her willingly cooperating and paying it back. A bunch of Keyboard Karen’s on here conflating an understandable poor judgment call that she self-reported and was held accountable for with “grifting” just shows words have lost their meaning.


Nobody said it was an international political crisis.

But why do we have an ISS with poor judgment who doesn't know -- or claims not to know -- basic rules around her employment?

And why do people defend the scammy behavior of someone in a well-paid position with significant responsibility? It's these low expectations that keep DCPS mired in mediocrity.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2025 07:32     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
This thread is wild. It begins with someone claiming an Instructional Supt makes “over $300K” which is blatantly false, and anyone doing 2 seconds of research sees that they make under $200K and less than many of their principals that they supervise. Then we get the “but her emails” crowd. How did that work out for us last time? We’re talking about a very, very small amount of money that SHE SELF-REPORTED leading to the follow up and her willingly cooperating and paying it back. A bunch of Keyboard Karen’s on here conflating an understandable poor judgment call that she self-reported and was held accountable for with “grifting” just shows words have lost their meaning.
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 22:24     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:Honestly I think Ms Caruthers is on here defending herself. It was a big deal, she was earning a separate salary while on government time - using government resources. “Not knowing” is not an excuse. Every dc government worker takes a training on things like this EVERY SINGLE YEAR.


This.

Caruthers is the absolute worst. DCPS is a festering sore. That’s why they didn’t fire her.
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 19:46     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Honestly I think Ms Caruthers is on here defending herself. It was a big deal, she was earning a separate salary while on government time - using government resources. “Not knowing” is not an excuse. Every dc government worker takes a training on things like this EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 19:41     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who the heck cares? How is a side job considered not being dedicated to her primary job? There are many DCPS employees who, because of their skill and talent, are hired or contracted to do other things. Who are you or anyone to say what another person should do with their time? This belief that you own another person is deeply rooted, and it sounds as if you need to do some deep reflecting and recognize your bias. Better yet, why not share with us what you do on your time, since you think that everyone is entitled to know? I'll wait.


She didn't do it on her own time and it overlapped with her official DCPS responsibilities. It put her in a conflicted position, she was double-billing for some hours, and she was using her Dc work email for outside work. Why are you defending all that?



Defending the right for people to live their lives without the constant judgment or opinion about what others feel they should be doing with their time. From what I understood, there were a few hours that overlapped, and with emails written from cell phones, the mistake of sending from your work email happens a lot. Big deal. There are so many shortages in education because people are tired of being scrutinized by the sidewalk educators. Everyone thinks that they know how to education children or how to run a school system because they once attended a school. You always have the option of educating your child yourself. Give them all that you want and feel that they deserve from your kitchen classroom; otherwise, stop your whining.


You are ridiculous. She can live her personal life free of scrutiny. Her professional life comes with laws, regulations, and professional ethics.

If it were a nefarious as you are trying to make it seem, she would have been fired. It was obviously a slight overlap, but judgmental people like yourself, who have been somehow led to believe that it is your job to tell others what they should or should not do, want to stir the pot. SO WHAT if her personal life intersected with her professional life? Does this not happen anywhere else? How about when you take your God like mindset into your job? Isn't that personal life crossing into professional life? Were children harmed? Anyways, mind your own business and leave others alone.
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 17:52     Subject: Re:DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who the heck cares? How is a side job considered not being dedicated to her primary job? There are many DCPS employees who, because of their skill and talent, are hired or contracted to do other things. Who are you or anyone to say what another person should do with their time? This belief that you own another person is deeply rooted, and it sounds as if you need to do some deep reflecting and recognize your bias. Better yet, why not share with us what you do on your time, since you think that everyone is entitled to know? I'll wait.


She didn't do it on her own time and it overlapped with her official DCPS responsibilities. It put her in a conflicted position, she was double-billing for some hours, and she was using her Dc work email for outside work. Why are you defending all that?



Defending the right for people to live their lives without the constant judgment or opinion about what others feel they should be doing with their time. From what I understood, there were a few hours that overlapped, and with emails written from cell phones, the mistake of sending from your work email happens a lot. Big deal. There are so many shortages in education because people are tired of being scrutinized by the sidewalk educators. Everyone thinks that they know how to education children or how to run a school system because they once attended a school. You always have the option of educating your child yourself. Give them all that you want and feel that they deserve from your kitchen classroom; otherwise, stop your whining.


You are ridiculous. She can live her personal life free of scrutiny. Her professional life comes with laws, regulations, and professional ethics.
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 17:49     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:She has also mandated her principals use/provided them with materials from her side hustle…


She did a required “DCPS” training after school for my school and it was literally just a Relay course rebranded with DCPS logos. It was also very basic, like how to ask good questions or something like that. But definitely hard to tell if it was a DCPS training or a Relay training and I wonder who was paying her for that time since it was after teachers’ contract hours.




and how were students harmed again?


Are you responding to the wrong person?
Anonymous
Post 06/19/2025 17:08     Subject: DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine
Anonymous wrote:She has also mandated her principals use/provided them with materials from her side hustle…


This. Conflict of interest.