Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor sent a message to staff Thursday afternoon addressing growing concerns tied to national events, heightened immigration enforcement, and the impact those issues are having on students, families, and educators across the county.
In his message, Taylor acknowledged that recent news has been deeply unsettling and, for many, traumatic. He referenced public acts of racism, hateful rhetoric, family separations, and violence, emphasizing that these events are not abstract for MCPS communities and that racism, hate, and dehumanization have no place in the school system.
Taylor reiterated the district’s commitment to equity and anti-racism, noting that MCPS’s work following its Anti-Racist System Audit is ongoing and not symbolic. He stressed that the district’s values do not shift based on headlines and that leadership remains united in standing with students and families, particularly those who have historically been marginalized.
The superintendent thanked staff for continuing to show up for students during a difficult period, recognizing that many educators are doing so while carrying their own racialized or secondary trauma. He said their consistency, care, and professionalism provide stability for students who may be fearful or confused by what they are seeing in the world.
As part of the message, Taylor shared a video (seen below) and a one-page guidance document (also below) outlining roles and responsibilities for MCPS employees in the event of federal immigration or non-local law enforcement activity. He said the resources are intended to help staff support students, maintain calm, protect student privacy, and understand what to do and what not to do if law enforcement arrives on school grounds.
According to the guidance, MCPS does not consent to immigration enforcement operations on school property without a valid warrant or emergency circumstances and will not invite immigration enforcement into schools. Any law enforcement activity on school grounds would be handled by school administrators, security staff, and MCPS Legal Services, not classroom staff.
The guidance document reminds staff to remain calm and professional, maintain student supervision, report concerns to school leadership, and avoid asking about immigration status, sharing student information, interfering with law enforcement, or speaking to the media on behalf of the district. Administrators are instructed to meet law enforcement outside, deny access without proper documentation, and coordinate directly with legal services.
Taylor closed by encouraging staff to care for their own well-being and reminded them that MCPS’s Employee Assistance Program is available for confidential support. He emphasized that students are watching how adults respond in moments like this and thanked staff for modeling courage, compassion, and integrity.
