New: Super. Thomas Taylor on principal change at Wootton HS, "entire school was supposed to receive training" "prior to the start of school, but didn't do"

On December 9, 2024, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor spoke at the Montgomery County Civic Federation monthly meeting.  

Superintendent Taylor was asked about the recent news out of Wootton High School.  The video below goes to Superintendent Taylor's complete response to this issue.  

Notes from the Superintendent's response: 

Superintendent Thomas Taylor:

 "...as bad as reported...

...events that happened last Monday that I was not aware of until Thursday of last week...

...hold people accountable... 

...there was a leadership change at that school on Thursday night...

...sometimes leadership change is necessary and needs to be swift...

...I am not afraid to do that...I recognize that sometimes puts me sideways with a union or two...

...I was very disappointed to find out that the entire school that was supposed to receive some training in this space did not receive that training and that's very disheartening...

...now stopped the world and done emergency training with staff that they should have done prior to the start of the school year but didn't do..."

Group demands update from Montgomery Co. Schools on literacy initiative

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — An advocacy group known as the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence is pushing Montgomery County Public Schools to do more to improve reading scores for minority students.

7News checked Evidence of Learning literacy scores from the 2023-2024 school year and found 85% of white students were proficient in literacy in Montgomery County, while only 62% of Black and 54% of Hispanic students were proficient...

https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/maryland-montgomery-county-public-schools-mcpa-black-and-brown-coalition-educational-equity-excellence-group-reading-launguage-arts-literacy-changes-students-teachers-help-reporting-scores-hispanic-board-of-education-policy

“Clearly, the system holds them back and restricts their opportunity to thrive,” [Christopher] Barclay said. “That level of neglect must and can be addressed.”

Community Calls for Education Equity for ‘Black and Brown’ Students
Group makes list of recommendations to address achievement gap
...

The coalition said that to eradicate the achievement gap, MCPS needs to:

• provide incentives to recruit and retain strong teachers and principals in high needs schools

• increase access to professional learning

• ensure minority students have access to advanced-level courses

• engage families in their students’ education

• work closely with education equity advocates to quickly implement services...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/community-calls-for-education-equity-for-black-and-brown-students/

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Christopher Barclay was a Montgomery County Board of Education member from December 2006 to 2016. 

Montgomery Co. school board member pays back almost $1,500 in unauthorized expenses

The Washington Post
May 22, 2014
Montgomery County Board of Education member and County Council candidate Christopher S. Barclay has reimbursed the school system for nearly $1,500 in unauthorized expenses since 2012, including restaurant meals and purchases from an online travel site, records show.

The expenses were charged to a board-issued credit card that members and other senior school officials may use for meals, travel and lodging related to official business. School system spokesman Dana Tofig said Thursday that the personal expenses on Barclay’s card were flagged during a monthly review of card use. He said Barclay has fully repaid the school system.

The reimbursements were first disclosed by the Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County, a watchdog group that presses the school system for greater transparency. The information came in response to a public records request, and WJLA (Channel 7) reported on the expenses Wednesday...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/montgomery-county-teachers-union-may-withdraw-endorsement-of-christopher-barclay/2014/06/02/7f8a0710-ea78-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html