Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Monifa McKnight said in a statement Monday she was asked by school board members last week to “step away” from her post.
McKnight said the board didn’t give a justification for its request and hadn’t communicated concern about her performance — and she said she would fight the attempt to oust her.
“For these reasons, I’m concerned that its actions are based on something other than my performance, which would constitute a violation of my contract,” McKnight said. “I will defend my reputation and my decades-long commitment to the students and families of MCPS, and will demand that any considerations of my role as superintendent are made through a fair, legitimate, and legal process — anything less would be unacceptable.”
McKnight became Montgomery County’s permanent superintendent in 2022 after serving in the role on an interim basis.
“The evaluation process has consistently affirmed that I have met expectations,” McKnight said in the statement.
Maryland’s largest school district has been scrutinized after sexual harassment allegations against a middle school principal surfaced last year. The county’s Office of the Inspector General released a report in December substantiating the allegations against Joel Beidleman, who had served as principal of Farquhar Middle School in Olney, Maryland, before being promoted in June to run Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville.
The county’s largest teachers’ union, the Montgomery County Education Association, said in a statement Monday that McKnight has not properly responded to the situation involving Beidleman.
“New revelations increasingly indicate that the superintendent has been more concerned with protecting herself and her close associates than with doing right by front-line staff and students,” MCEA said.
“The superintendent’s overseeing body, the board, is no doubt aware of confidential information that caused them to determine this drastic step is necessary. In declaring open war with the board, Dr. McKnight threatens to further damage not only her own future, but also the board’s efforts to restore the public’s trust in Montgomery County Public Schools,” MCEA’s statement said.
The county’s inspector general is conducting another investigation that focuses on MCPS’ process for receiving and responding to misconduct allegations. A report from that probe is expected by the end of January.
The school board met in a closed session Monday evening and released a statement saying it’s aware of McKnight’s statement and that the board “continues to fulfill its role as an employer.”
The board added that “this is a personnel matter and in alignment with laws related to personnel matters, we, as her employer will not be providing further comment at this time.”
Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando, who’s chair of the Education and Culture Committee, told WTOP he’s not commenting on the request for McKnight to step away at this time.
WTOP’s Thomas Robertson contributed to this report.
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