Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 11:50     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:I just watched the Fox 5 video linked above at 08:20.

You can't see much from the video as all the kids' heads are blurred (fair to do). You can't even see the child he's directly interacting with since Winter's own body is blocking the child from the video.

But from the highlighted section in video, Winter's "stomping" (the word that keeps getting used) did seem to be intentional. The motion does not look accidental at all.

You can't tell if the child does or doesn't cry or react because the child's face isn't even visible in the video.

I would not be OK with a principal or teacher or counselor or any school employee thinking it's OK to go around and intentionally place the adult's foot forcefully on a young child's foot.


I agree. It's clear the teachers intent was to look he wasn't anything while he clearly was intentionally stomping his foot forcefully.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 11:32     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:I just watched the Fox 5 video linked above at 08:20.

You can't see much from the video as all the kids' heads are blurred (fair to do). You can't even see the child he's directly interacting with since Winter's own body is blocking the child from the video.

But from the highlighted section in video, Winter's "stomping" (the word that keeps getting used) did seem to be intentional. The motion does not look accidental at all.

You can't tell if the child does or doesn't cry or react because the child's face isn't even visible in the video.

I would not be OK with a principal or teacher or counselor or any school employee thinking it's OK to go around and intentionally place the adult's foot forcefully on a young child's foot.


+1 the way he is standing looks like he is trying to look nonchalant while he tries to physically hurt the kid.

Btw it's bizarre to me the judge based her decision on whether the kid reacted in the way she expects. The kid is autistic. We don't always react the way people expect us to.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 10:44     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
He's withdrawn himself from the appointment:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/01/10/richtie-park-principal-leaves-new-school-post/

"The former principal of Ritchie Park Elementary School in Rockville who was acquitted of assaulting a student in 2024 won’t serve as the assistant principal of Rockville’s Rock Creek Valley Elementary after deciding he no longer wants to be assigned to a Montgomery County public school, according to a Thursday letter sent to Rock Creek Valley families. "
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 10:12     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
I just watched the Fox 5 video linked above at 08:20.

You can't see much from the video as all the kids' heads are blurred (fair to do). You can't even see the child he's directly interacting with since Winter's own body is blocking the child from the video.

But from the highlighted section in video, Winter's "stomping" (the word that keeps getting used) did seem to be intentional. The motion does not look accidental at all.

You can't tell if the child does or doesn't cry or react because the child's face isn't even visible in the video.

I would not be OK with a principal or teacher or counselor or any school employee thinking it's OK to go around and intentionally place the adult's foot forcefully on a young child's foot.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 08:35     Subject: Re:Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
I don't see anything from that video. Why are people so angry about that video? I'm so confused.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 08:20     Subject: Re:Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Not sure why people are talking about the Fox 5 article/video but not linking to it: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/video-appears-show-former-maryland-principal-stomping-foot-kindergartner-autism
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 07:48     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fox 5 has a news story with the video and I just watched it.

I will admit, it doesn’t look great. But I also have to ask myself then why did a judge acquit him? Is there another angle because that video doesn’t look good.



What do you mean it doesn't look good? While it isn't a perfect angle, you can get a brief look below the principal's foot-- all you see is the floor. And as the judge said, the child doesn't seem to react at that time.


I updated my comment at 6:34. I watched it again and agree. I don’t see anything. I don’t even see a reaction. It’s a quick cut away.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 07:38     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:Fox 5 has a news story with the video and I just watched it.

I will admit, it doesn’t look great. But I also have to ask myself then why did a judge acquit him? Is there another angle because that video doesn’t look good.



What do you mean it doesn't look good? While it isn't a perfect angle, you can get a brief look below the principal's foot-- all you see is the floor. And as the judge said, the child doesn't seem to react at that time.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 07:12     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that we are trying to show something that’s not clear at all. I don’t see contact even though they want me to believe it. This is what is wrong with news, trying to sensationalize a story and ruin this guy even more. Sad and unnecessary. Not a story after he was acquitted and cleared to return.


+1. Especially by reading the statement of charges account while showing a difficult to see video, they're planting that version of events in the viewers head. For instance, they say "began to cry immediately" when the judge found that that wasn't what happened, but because the boy's face is blurred, you'd never know that that phrase is apparently wrong. Just very dishonest reporting.

Having seen the video and trying to ignore the misleading news reporting though, I see nothing wrong. I'd happily have him at our school.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 07:07     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Be happy there is an administrator who is willing to not let kids do whatever they want. It appears that some parents get upset when their children cant do whatever they want whenever they want to.

News reports indicate

During the trial, several people testified that the student had difficulties staying in class for long periods and would often get up to walk around the school. On the day of the incident, the student left the cafeteria several times.


During a roughly five-hour bench trial, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Sharon Burrell said the student was inconsistent in his testimony and that he showed no outward signs of pain in the video. She said the state didn’t prove whether the student was upset because his foot was stomped on or if it was because he was scared or upset about having to do something he didn’t want to do.

There wasn’t even enough evidence to continue the trial. He was NOT acquitted, the case was so weak the judge dismissed the case.


There is no world where effective “discipline “ involves grabbing a child by the clothing and stomping on their foot. This man is not able to self regulate and lost control of himself and it was caught on camera. Teachers have been fired for less. I don’t blame the community at Rock Creek Valley ES one bit. Seems he will have a hard time acclimating there


+1


Teachers can rape a student and not get fired.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 06:53     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that we are trying to show something that’s not clear at all. I don’t see contact even though they want me to believe it. This is what is wrong with news, trying to sensationalize a story and ruin this guy even more. Sad and unnecessary. Not a story after he was acquitted and cleared to return.


Again- not enough to make a criminal case but MORE than enough to warrant losing his principalship. Teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers and other staff have lost their jobs over far less and he should be no different.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 06:38     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Seems to me that we are trying to show something that’s not clear at all. I don’t see contact even though they want me to believe it. This is what is wrong with news, trying to sensationalize a story and ruin this guy even more. Sad and unnecessary. Not a story after he was acquitted and cleared to return.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 06:34     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
Anonymous wrote:I just watched it too and honestly you can’t see any contact made. He stomps his foot once (looks like he raises his foot maybe half a foot) but no clarity that the boys foot was hit and no reaction shown immediately after by child. Mom clearly is looking for money through a civil suit. Winter was acquitted 6 weeks ago. Time to move on!


I didn’t see any reaction either and now that I watched it again. I don’t see a clean shot. You see his foot move, but then it cuts away.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 06:33     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
I also just saw the video. Nothing conclusive!
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2025 06:29     Subject: Petition to Rescind the appointment of AP at Rock Creek Valley ES
I just watched it too and honestly you can’t see any contact made. He stomps his foot once (looks like he raises his foot maybe half a foot) but no clarity that the boys foot was hit and no reaction shown immediately after by child. Mom clearly is looking for money through a civil suit. Winter was acquitted 6 weeks ago. Time to move on!