8 Schools: Former Montgomery County school aide charged with abuse of 7-year-old

Police have accused a former school aide in Maryland of sexually abusing a female student who as a second-grader allegedly searched for candy in the aide’s pants pocket and touched his genitals.

Hector Hermes Lagos Toro, 58, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third degree-sex offense for the alleged conduct at Stedwick Elementary School — the latest in a line of onetime Montgomery County school system employees accused of inappropriate contact with students.

Toro, who worked for the Montgomery County school system for more than a decade as a classroom aide and lunch-hour assistant, left the system in 2012 and is a longtime Spanish-language teacher at extracurricular foreign language programs across the county...

...Most recently, Toro worked as a Spanish-language instructor for before- and after-school foreign language programs run out of county elementary schools — one called FLES and the other, Foreign Language for Kids.

Since 2000, he worked with the FLES program operated by Big Learning, which was created by Montgomery’s countywide council of PTAs. This school year, he taught with FLES at Potomac Elementary and at Thurgood Marshall Elementary and Whetstone Elementary, both in Gaithersburg.

Since 2015, he also worked for Foreign Language for Kids, an educational company in Potomac, through which he taught at schools including Wilson Wims Elementary in Clarksburg, Carderock Springs Elementary in Bethesda and Seven Locks Elementary in Potomac.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/former-montgomery-county-school-aide-charged-with-abuse-of-7-year-old/2018/04/03/e41cc566-36cb-11e8-8fd2-49fe3c675a89_story.html?utm_term=.6ed2bf861512

Open Letter to Superintendent: MCPS has yet to correct the flaws, loopholes and shoddy implementation of the policy and regulations regarding child abuse and neglect.

From: jennifer alvaro 
Date: Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Subject: Child Sexual abuse in MCPS
To: "Smith, Jack" , MCPS of Education
Cc: "Harris, Darlene M" , "Napoli, Sandra L" , "Gray, Martha M" , "Turner, Derek G" , Donna Hollingshead ,

Dr. Smith and County School Board Members,  

Please be aware over the past year,  despite numerous contacts with MCPS (in the form of  personal conversations with Dr. Smith, emails to Dr. Smith and email exchanges with MCPS staff, radio appearances with MCPS staff) MCPS has yet to correct the flaws, loopholes and shoddy implementation of the policy and regulations regarding child abuse and neglect. 

Two recent examples are presented here.   First, the Personal Body Safety Lessons are still not being implemented correctly in schools. One example is last week at Cloverly elementary school the counselor ran a parent meeting to discuss the PBSL.   The counselor  stated numerous times she only had to teach one lesson to each grade.  When a parent read the information below (supplied by your staff),  the counselor continued to assert she had the discretion to change the lessons as she sees fit.

It should be obvious to those who stay informed on this issue, if there is any school in the entire county who should be embracing teaching this program correctly, it should be Cloverly.   John Vigna was only caught due to a brave child reporting her abuse after taking this program.   As you know, MCPS did an internal investigation of his abusive behaviors in 2008, another internal investigation in 2013 and must have reviewed all the information again in 2015 after Dr. Starr's December memo to review all files for suspicious / abusive behaviors.  Yet, despite all that, Vigna was left in the classroom.   

In a school where victim blaming and shaming was rampant in meetings and court, it becomes even more critical for the PBSL and parent meetings to be run with compassion and with fidelity.  

I have asked you before, and I will ask you again, will you please immediately issue a directive to all school staff with specific instructions this program must be taught at all grade levels, every year?    The program itself has serious flaws (for example: at some levels it is a "one and done" which is not best practice, and it is not taught every year to every student as you state) but never the less, you do have clear proof it is keeping children safe.

A second glaring example of the way MCPS is handling abuse is this month alone, two MCPS staff members have been arrested for sexually abusing students.   One of them worked at Carderock Springs elementary school for over a year.   A letter went home to Carderock parents stating parents should share information they have with police.   No such letter went home to parents at Pyle Middle school where former Carderock Springs students are enrolled.  Don't parents of former students deserve to have this information so they may act? 

I have been asking since 2012 for these issues to be addressed appropriately and thoroughly.   I will continue advocating for the flaws, error, loopholes and mismanagement of this to be corrected.   Children are currently being left at risk and will suffer as a result of both your action & inaction.   

I welcome the opportunity to speak to you all further about these concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Jennifer Alvaro 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Hollingshead, Donna"

To: jennifer alvaro 

Cc: "Napoli, Sandra L" ; "Harris, Darlene M" ; "Gray, Martha M" ; "Turner, Derek G"

Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 5:17 PM

Subject: RE: Follow-up to your Message to Dr. Smith

 

Good Evening Ms. Alvaro:

 

This message is in response to your email to Dr. Smith, in which you requested clarification regarding our personal body safety lessons (PBSL) at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).   As you are aware, in our effort to play an active role in preventing child abuse and neglect, MCPS staff members, in conjunction with partners, developed PBSLs to complement the Comprehensive Health Education curriculum.

 

As noted in the May 31, 2017 response letter to your Maryland Public Information Act request, counselors work under the direction of principals and in coordination with the Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement. They are provided with lessons that they are expected to use in their schools. However, as the December 8 memorandum titled “Action: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Personal Body Safety Lessons for Students” indicates, counselors in Grades 6-10 have the option of where to implement the lesson.  These options include during Health classes, other classes or in small groups.  I have spoken to Mr. Turner and he regrets if he misspoke during the phone conversation with the students.

 

Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to provide a clarification to your reference of “the full 3 session curriculum.”  Included for your reference below is a chart of the PBSL lessons requirements by grade for the 2016-2017 school year.

he worked at Carderock Elementary as a part-time paraeducator for the school system

Police arrest after-school program worker for touching 10-year-old girl

...In a letter, school principal Jae W. Lee said that Simmons was known as “Andy” when he worked at Carderock Elementary as a part-time paraeducator for the school system and for Kids Adventures after school...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-arrest-after-school-program-worker-for-touching-10-year-old-girl/2017/10/05/a505f67c-aa2b-11e7-92d1-58c702d2d975_story.html?utm_term=.83fc654895a2

After-School Program Employee Charged with Inappropriate Touching of Student

etectives from the Montgomery County Police Department –  Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Roy Andres Simmons III, age 41, of the 9500 block of Bell Vernon Place in Gaithersburg, with a sex offense committed against a 10-year-old female student while Simmons was employed with a company that administered an after-school program at the victim’s school.

In May of 2017, detectives began investigating the report of Simmons inappropriately touching the victim.  The victim stated to investigators that in November of 2016, she was attending an after-school event sponsored by a company named “Kids Adventures” at Carderock Springs Elementary School located at 7401 Persimmon Tree Lane in Potomac.  The victim knew Simmons from his capacity as a group leader for “Kids Adventures”. The victim further stated that Simmons was leading a group activity when he inappropriately touched her while she was separated from other students.

During a police interview, Simmons admitted to the inappropriate contact.

On October 3, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Simmons charging him with one count of fourth-degree sex offense and one count of second-degree assault.

This afternoon (October 5), Simmons turned himself in and was served with the arrest warrant at the Central Processing Unit.  Bond information for Simmons is not yet available.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims.  Detectives are requesting that parents of students who may have had contact with Simmons, to talk to their children about their interactions with him and contact SVID detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2017/10/05/after-school-program-employee-charged-with-inappropriate-touching-of-student/

Residents want answers about a proposal to put a 180-foot cell tower near Carderock Springs Elementary School.

...Residents have been concerned that the tower, which would be built on state property, is too close to Carderock Springs Elementary School. In a September meeting, residents expressed fears of having a tower that emitted electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields so close to the school, a concern that was dismissed out-of-hand by officials at the meeting...

 http://www.gazette.net/article/20140122/NEWS/140129689/1022/carderock-residents-look-for-answers-from-state-on-proposed-cellphone&template=gazette

180-foot tower would be too close to Carderock Springs Elementary School, residents say

...But residents said they feared having a tower that emitted electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields so close to Carderock Springs Elementary School, a concern dismissed out-of-hand by officials...

http://www.gazette.net/article/20130918/NEWS/130919048/1124/carderock-residents-balk-at-state-x2019-s-cell-tower-proposal&template=gazette

Sweetheart Field Deals Replaced by Competitive Bidding: KOA Sports Wins Carderock ES Field

Looks like a Work Group was formed to advise the Board of Education on putting out local public school fields for competitive bids by prospective sponsors.  Apparently, in the past some fields had certain sponsors that were given exclusive access to a field year after year, without any opportunity for other organizations to bid on the opportunity. 


Was there any public notice of this Work Group?  (See Maryland Open Meetings Act) Looks like the Carderock PTA was involved.  Did they sign Confidentiality Agreements to participate in this discussion? Note that first up to have their field subject to competitive bids is a Whitman Cluster school. 

...Late last year, it was brought to our attention that other non-adopting athletic organizations would like the opportunity to compete for fields that either were adopted or dominated by an historic user. A work group comprising Montgomery County Government CUPF staff, Montgomery County Department of Parks (Parks) staff, and MCPS staff was formed to discuss a process change in order to offer fields on a competitive basis to all interested and qualified athletic groups. As a result of these meetings, a new protocol was formulated and agreed upon by MCPS and Parks...

June 25, 2012 Montgomery County Board of Education Meeting Agenda Item 3.2.4 

Churchill HS wants $80,000 Scoreboard. How the "Green" Schools get "Greener".

Wheaton High School Football Stadium

Silver Spring public high schools get cell phone towers on their football fields, but over at Churchill High School the parents have raised $80,000 to put in an upgraded scoreboard.
  

Superintendent Starr's response? Sure, why not! 

What does an $80,000 scoreboard look like?  

Will the Board of Education review the proposal to give this one school a specialized scoreboard or will they rubber stamp Superintendent Starr's approval?  This item is, after all, on the CONSENT AGENDA for the June 14, 2012, Board of Education meeting. No Board discussion is requested. Just get out the Green Zone Rubber Stamp. 

4.2.12 Winston Churchill HS Rqst Booster Funded Upgraded Scoreboard

Carderock students sold out by MCPS in exchange for $11,000 payment

Proceeds diverted to fund overseen by Bowers, O'Neill, and Weast

Documents obtained by the Parents' Coalition reveal that MCPS Chief Operating Officer Larry Bowers agreed to lease several school parking lots to the United States Golf Association (USGA) during the recent US Open Golf Tournament in exchange for an $11,000 contribution to a foundation that Bowers oversees.

The documents, obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request, include a contract giving the USGA exclusive use of parking lots at Carderock Springs Elementary School, Walter Johnson High School, and Walt Whitman High School during much the US Open Golf Tournament. The contract also gives the USGA use of the parking lot at the Carver Educational Service Center while setting aside reserved parking spaces for Board of Education members, former Superintendent Jerry Weast, and other high-ranking MCPS personnel.

No approval of the parking lot contract could be found in Board of Education meeting minutes.

The contract that Bowers signed includes a handwritten note stating "$11,000 will go into MCPS Educational Foundation." Bowers is the Executive Director of the MCPS Educational Foundation, according to the foundation's web site.  Maryland law requires that income received by MCPS be forwarded to the County Council for appropriation.

Section of parking lot rental agreement exposing $11,000 diversion to fund run by Bowers, Weast, and O'Neill

In January, former Superintendent Weast announced that Carderock Springs Elementary school would be closed two days before the end of the school year, claiming that the early closure was needed because of the number of spectators expected and because of security concerns.  The Board of Education was not told that the parking lot would be leased to the USGA.

"As a result of the number of spectators anticipated and potential security concerns created by this event, I have authorized the last day of school for students at Carderock Springs Elementary School to be Tuesday, June 14, 2011.  The scheduled last day of school for all other MCPS students will remain Thursday, June 16, 2011," wrote Weast in his January 13, 2011 memo to the Board of Education.

Weast is a member of the MCPS Educational Foundation Board of Directors. Patricia O'Neill is a member of the Board of Education and also serves as a director of the MCPS Educational Foundation. 

Parking agreement between MCPS and USGA

Additional documentation from MCPS about parking lot use for golf tournament

Carderock jumps over Somerset

This week Carderock Elementary School will receive funding for a brand new project that is identical to a project at Somerset Elementary School that was already in the MCPS Master Plan. 


Sorry, Somerset Elementary School. 

This week Superintendent Jerry Weast announced that he was requesting a "change order" for the construction project at Carderock Springs Elementary School in Bethesda. That "change order" was actually funding for a new addition at the school.  The new addition would involve the build out of a third floor - 3 of the 10 rooms in a shell that had been constructed into the new building for future use. You can read more about that surprise announcement here.

The $1.5 million being funded for Carderock ES this week is exactly the same amount of money that Somerset ES needs for the EXACT SAME ADDITION PROJECT. Somerset ES ALSO has a 4 room shell in need of money to build out the classrooms. The project would also cost $1.5 million. 

But here's the rub. The Somerset ES project is actually in the MCPS Capital Budget plan. The Somerset funding has been reviewed by the County Council staff and determined to be a low priority project. The Somerset ES funding is in danger of being deferred.

That's the beauty of the Carderock ES "change order". No messy Master Plan process. No cumbersome review by the County Council. Just call it a "change order" and Carderock gets a new addition in front of all of the other MCPS addition projects waiting in the queue, including the exact same construction project at Somerset ES.

Carderock ES jumps to top of addition list!

Portable classrooms clash with Terrazzo tile.


MCPS has a Division of Long Term Planning. But here is this week's planning surprise!


Three new classrooms will be added to the brand new Carderock Springs Elementary School currently under construction. See the picture at left. The roof is already on the new structure!


The MCPS Board of Education will vote to add 3 more classrooms to this almost complete new school on April 15, 2010. 


MCPS announced on November 3, 2009, via the Carderock Principal that an Autism program would be added to Carderock Springs Elementary School.  But it took 5 more months for MCPS administrators to figure out that the program would need space? 


Did the Carderock Springs ES community reject the installation of classroom trailers? Because that is how this situation would have been handled at other schools. 


How many MCPS elementary schools have classroom trailers in place and desperately need an addition? (Answer: 82) 


Sorry 82 MCPS elementary schools with classroom trailers, Carderock ES just cut in front of you...


From Superintendent Jerry Weast's memorandum to the Board of Education:

Initially, the modernization of Carderock Springs Elementary School did not include planning for classroom space for the Autism Program. However, after discussions with staff in the Department of Special Education Services, it became apparent that including these classes at Carderock Springs Elementary School was essential.

The modernization of Carderock Springs Elementary School includes a third floor that has been master-planned for future classrooms. Division of Construction staff has determined that three of the ten master-planned classrooms can be built now to accommodate capacity in the school to house the Autism Program. The modifications to include the three classrooms on the third floor and modifications to ground floor classrooms for the Autism Program can be done during the current construction process and will be completed on schedule by August 2010.

and don't miss this "Whereas" in Superintendent Weast's memo:

...WHEREAS, There are enough funds available in the modernization budget...