Paint Branch High School Principal on Extended Leave Pending Investigation, Per the Washington Post

Last Friday, an email was sent to the Paint Branch High School community informing them of the school’s principal, Dr. Joel Beidleman, going on extended leave. Beidleman was named principal at Paint Branch in June and was previously principal at William Farquhar Middle School in Olney.

A Washington Post article released this morning alleges that Beidleman was reported to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 18 times in seven years and details alleged sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and other inappropriate conduct at multiple schools, spanning over a decade. The article states that Beidleman was placed on leave by MCPS and that the school system will launch an “independent, external investigation.”

MCPS Director of Communications, Chris Cram, provided the following statement to us when we reached out regarding the Washington Post article, “MCPS maintains its commitment to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for our students. MCPS also maintains its commitment to provide an appropriate work environment for its staff. We have identified an external and independent investigation team with expertise in education and employment law to promptly investigate allegations that were raised in the Washington Post’s investigation. The external team will also assess the district processes concerning documenting, reporting and investigating allegations of bullying, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination of any kind. Privacy protocols will be adhered to throughout our response to this matter. The safety of our students, staff and community is a top priority for MCPS.”

The full letter sent to the Paint Branch community last week can be seen below:

“Dear Paint Branch High School Parents/Guardians, Students, and Staff Members:

I hope this letter finds you well and that the summer months have given you an opportunity for rest and rejuvenation. As the Associate Superintendent of School Support and WellBeing who supervises the Paint Branch cluster, I am writing to share that Dr. Joel Beidleman, principal of Paint Branch High School, is currently on extended leave.

His absence from Paint Branch High School requires us to identify an acting principal. To ensure that we identify someone who will provide strong and effective leadership, we will share details about an acting principal next week. In the interim, if you have any questions, please contact assistant principal Belinda Penn, [email protected] or me at Donna [email protected]. I look forward to partnering with you and actively supporting the Paint Branch community in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Donna Redmond Jones, Ph.D”