According to a report by ABC7, Wootton High School Principal Douglas Nelson has been placed on administrative leave. MCPS Spokesperson Liliana Lopez confirmed that “the principal has been placed on leave”, but did not provide any additional details. As of Monday evening, we are not aware of any communication to the Wootton community regarding this development.
On Friday, a letter was sent to the Wootton High School community regarding an incident where a racial slur was found written on a student’s desk. The school postponed a scheduled pep rally to inform students and staff about the incident and announced plans for district staff to work with the school to address the situation and promote a more inclusive environment. The following follow-up letter was sent to the Wootton community on Sunday, December 8th, but does not mention anything regarding anyone being placed on leave:
Dear Wootton High School Community,
The purpose of this letter is to provide follow-up communication following Friday’s message to youon December 6, 2024. Together, we want to ensure transparent communication regarding the support, actions, and expectations in response to the anti-Black, racist hate and bias incident that occurred on December 2, 2024.
We want to begin by stating unequivocally that discrimination and hate and bias in any form will not be tolerated in Montgomery County Public Schools. Hateful behaviors and actions stand in stark opposition to the shared values of inclusivity, respect, and safety that we uphold across the district. As district wide school leaders, the response was not up to our expectations, and we need to do better.
The investigation into this incident will be finalized on Monday, and the student or students responsible will face consequences in accordance with our MCPS Student Code of Conduct. The prohibited behaviors and progressive discipline outlined in our code of conduct are important tools to address violations immediately and remind us of the behaviors we expect to see from all students in our community.
The Community has Asked for Action
On Friday, students, staff, and the broader community passionately pleaded for concrete steps to end hate at Wootton High School and throughout the district. To be clear, this moment demands reflection, action and commitment to change, and we are determined to see this process through with support from central services and a shared commitment to lasting transformation.This next week, we are planning for the following:
Immediate Mental Health and Support Resources
On Monday, central services will provide support to meet the social-emotional needs of the Wootton community:
- Crisis counselors, restorative approaches specialists, school counselors, and school psychologists will be on-site to support anyone in need of mental health assistance.
- The community will be provided with a variety of restoration opportunities focused on creating safe spaces for staff and students, facilitating dialogue among community members, determining accountability structures, promoting awareness and action toward racial justice, and repairing harm and fractured relationships.
We recognize that the harm caused to the community by the actual incident and by the lack of prompt reporting is not isolated to this incident, and we are committed to strengthening future response and to fostering a community where understanding, empathy, and respect replace hate and bias.
Training and Strengthening Response Protocols
Staff at Wootton High School will undergo training on Monday to enhance our response to hate and bias incidents:
- Central services specialists will lead training sessions on the policies, procedures, and expectations for reporting incidents of hate and bias.
- Staff will also receive professional development to build their capacity to respond to these incidents in a supportive and effective manner.
Strengthening school staff’s ability to quickly and accurately respond to hate and bias incidents helps ensure a safe environment for everyone. It also fosters transparency through shared knowledge and clear expectations. You can learn more about the expectations by visiting the MCPS Responding to Incidents of Hate and Biaswebpage.
Community Engagement and Dialogue
We recognize the harm caused by shortcomings in our response to this incident and are committed to rebuilding trust through meaningful dialogue, for these reasons:
- Planning is underway for a community dialogue session to engage caregivers, students, and other members of the Wootton community. We are working to ensure the event includes the right voices and resources for meaningful discussion. The date, time, and location will be announced within the next couple of days.
We recognize that our response to this incident harmed many of you, and we look forward to this upcoming discussion. We deeply appreciate the voices of our Black students and the community, who have shared their concerns and expectations and offered thoughtful strategies to combat racism and foster progress.
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We also understand that the fight against hate and racism will take time and will be challenging. Montgomery County Public Schools, alongside Wootton High School, will move forward in alignment with our shared expectations for meaningful action, and we will provide updates on our progress.
Thank you for your partnership in creating a safer and more inclusive school community for all.
Sincerely,
Thomas W. Taylor Ed.D., M.B.A. Superintendent of Schools Montgomery County Public Schools
Peter O. Moran Ed.D. Chief of Schools Montgomery County Public Schools