Anonymous wrote:Yeah it would be weird to stop pushing MCPS to do better based on a statement that hasn't even been made fully public (so we don't even know who in the coalition signed onto it, if any), and the parts that have been reported make clear their proposed model has problems.

True, too many organizations represent only the members, not the communities they are part of.

I’m disturbed by the conflict of interest of that group leader.

It makes more sense to add more programs to the “desert” areas effective next school year, than to advocate for a destructive multimillion dollar proposal.

Yeah it would be weird to stop pushing MCPS to do better based on a statement that hasn't even been made fully public (so we don't even know who in the coalition signed onto it, if any), and the parts that have been reported make clear their proposed model has problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

His kids went to private school, not even MCPS. I believe it was Good Counsel.

Yes
Byron Johns is a proud, outspoken supporter of Catholic schools.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

This sounds like the biggest grift ever. They get their pockets lined, Taylor gets his initiatives through using progressive guilt, and the kids get watered down programs that aren’t well designed, funded, or set up for success. And families are driving in circles adding more traffic in MoCo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

They make it racist by their positions.

It's a cynical attempt by Taylor ginning up this sudden support for his program initiative. Instead of trying to find common ground with organizations that have done the work with their members to have a considered collective approach, Taylor just wants to have his way. It is not a good look for the leader of the school district.

It does make me wonder what kind of deal MCPS/BOE made with the devil in order to sic Byron Johns on the other voices of resistance and to pull the racism card. The advocacy must be getting uncomfortable for MCPS/BOE to do that - so keep it up! Looks like if MCPS can't persuade, they'll intimidate instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

They make it racist by their positions.

It's a cynical attempt by Taylor ginning up this sudden support for his program initiative. Instead of trying to find common ground with organizations that have done the work with their members to have a considered collective approach, Taylor just wants to have his way. It is not a good look for the leader of the school district.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

They make it racist by their positions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

I think Diego and Byron would like people to think they are a huge coalition. They hold a meeting occasionally that a lot of people attend and they tend to put the superintendent (usually a new one these days) on the spot about how racist the school system is. The superintendent makes a pledge to do better. And the funding stream to Identity Youth, which provides some staffing support to the coalition, continues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

His kids went to private school, not even MCPS. I believe it was Good Counsel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

They will believe this because they haven't been gathering feedback from Black or Hispanic families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.

If this is really representative of the whole coalition rather than just a few people personally, then yes people absolutely will care about this. The interpretation will be that white people want this to slow down and Black and Hispanic families want it to go ahead, and BoE members have to choose between them. That's a lot to expect Board members to shrug off, especially when they were reluctant to challenge Taylor and Central Office on this in the first place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

He's not a random guy, he leads the NAACP Parents' Coalition and so far is the only major BIPOC stakeholder that is speaking out.

Did they all discuss and vote on this? Presumably, since they're putting their name on the statement? Does anyone know the backstory?

To be clear, the NAACP PC did not put out this statement. The Black and Brown Coalition did. Byron happens to lead both, but this statement is from the Black and Brown Coalition which is led by Byron and Diego.

Diego Uriburu is also the executive director of Identity Youth https://www.identity-youth.org/what-we-do, which gets county funding to work in numerous MCPS schools. So, again, gotta follow the money. Both Diego and Byron have vested interests in doing the superintendent a favor by coming out in favor of Taylor's plan. Taylor is seeing the recent positions of MCEA and MCCPTA as a reason to pull out whatever stops he can to sway the community to his points. Perhaps Taylor instead should seek common ground with people who are asking him to take a different approach with program planning.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boom: "Black and Brown Coalition declares support for proposed MCPS regional program model"

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/11/black-brown-coaliiton-proposed-regional-programs/

I'm not familiar with this group. Are they known to be Central Office-aligned, or have they historically been willing to criticize them and hence this is likely a genuine expression of their community's perspectives?

Yes, they are. Byron protested Dr. McKnight's ouster and he has been a fan boy for Dr. Taylor since his arrival.

And no, Byron has not been willing to criticize Taylor and MCPS in public.

Byron used to be very different and very supportive of concerns. So, something changed with him.

It's called having county funding for his job.

It's also a huge conflict of interest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how the coalition can give their support with only one NAACP meeting to discuss the regional model with members seriously questioning MCPS. Taylor knows how to get what he wants. Mostly black women as the face of this rushed initiative.

Now if anybody white or Asian is critical of the program study we can be labelled as racist.

Bingo. Byron and the Black and Brown Coalition put out this statement to give Taylor cover in the face of unsupportive and negative statements for Taylor's model from MCCPTA and MCEA. Taylor called in a favor. Disgusting.

I’m sorry, so everyone is sounding the alarm but this random Byron guy says he’s in favor and now that he’s personally blessed the plan, that’s the only voice we listen to? Why would his opinion matter more than teachers, parents and students?

I cannot imagine anyone cares what he has to say. He's older, his kids are probably grown, and if his kids are in MCPS they would go to Whooton. He has no idea what really happens in MCPS outside the W schools. He's not practicing what he's preaching.