The following weekly "Dear Colleague" was sent to all MCPS staff. This letter contains an Action Plan Update on the corrective actions work by superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight and the district to improve the investigations and promotions process in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Dear Colleague,

Before I dive into an important update, I want to recognize and thank all of you for your work last week as we faced a significant weather event. Your extra effort and adaptability are deeply appreciated especially the work of our facilities and maintenance teams to keep our students and staff safe. 

I am writing today to provide an update on the comprehensive corrective action plan we have been developing in response to the allegations of abuse and sexual harassment from last year.  My goal is not only to update and modernize MCPS processes, policies, and procedures but also to align them better with MCPS values. The aim is to ensure that all staff, faculty, students, and others within the MCPS community can thrive in safe and healthy learning and teaching environments.

Together, my team and I examined, analyzed, and rethought the MCPS landscape. Additionally, we modeled a new approach that sought to draw on the rich and diverse insights, perspectives, and expertise of stakeholders from across the MCPS community.

Over the last several months, I have directed key corrective actions to be put in place. The Action Plan Update / A Snapshot of Progress is an update on the important work that we have done over the past four months. This includes the implementation of a series of critical actions and policies that are already helping to enhance, bolster, and strengthen MCPS’s ability to ensure accountability, fairness, and safety across various areas of focus.

You can view that document here 

I am delighted that we are all back in school today, coming together to support our students and each other. Despite the challenging snow and low temperatures of the past few days, let's remember that warmer temperatures are on the way. In fact, by Thursday, we could see temperatures rise up to 60 degrees. I am excited to visit schools and witness our exceptional staff in action. Remember to prioritize self-care and extend the same level care to others. It is this spirit of compassion that defines our MCPS community. 

In partnership,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight
Superintendent of Schools