Officials Want New Probe After MoCo Principal Accused Of Harassment

ROCKVILLE, MD — Officials are asking county and state authorities to conduct an independent investigation into Montgomery County Public Schools' handling of reported sexual harassment and bullying allegations against a former middle school principal, according to reports.

A week after school officials announced they had selected a law firm to investigate accusations against former Farquhar Middle School principal Joel Beidleman, councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Evan Glass sent a letter to county and state inspector generals calling for a new probe to "restore public trust," a copy of the letter obtained by MoCo360 stated.

"As the new school year is about to begin, our educators, staff, students, and families need to know that someone truly independent is tasked with conducting this investigation in order to restore public trust," the letter said. A copy was also sent to Superintendent Monifa McKnight and Board of Education President Karla Silvestre, the Washington Post reported.

The letter continued, "We believe your offices are best suited to investigate these widespread and extensive allegations because you are independent of MCPS and the Montgomery County Board of Education."

According to a Washington Post investigation published earlier this month, at least 18 reports of sexual harassment, bullying and retaliation were recorded against Beidleman over multiple years. The reports — submitted to the district by staff members, parents and others — detail a pattern of harassment and inappropriate conduct spanning 12 years and three schools, according to documents obtained by the Post.

Despite receiving six reports in 2023, district officials promoted Biedleman in June to oversee Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, the Post reported.

Following the release of the Post's investigation, Biedleman was placed on administrative leave, according to reports.

In a written response sent to the Post, Biedleman defended his career and denied many of the allegations.

"There were no formal complaints of sexual harassment, threats, retaliation, or workplace bullying or other aggressions," he told the newspaper.

Last week, Montgomery County schools hired Baltimore-based law firm Jackson Lewis to investigate the allegations, according to a WTOP report. In a video statement posted on YouTube, McKnight said the investigation would help "get to the bottom of what may have happened and how it may have been allowed to persist for so long."

"As a professional, a woman and a mother, I am very disturbed by the reports," McKnight said.

In the statement, McKnight pledged accountability and action.

"If there is any rot, we will root it out," she said. "There will be accountability. Harassment of any kind, bullying and retaliation have no place in our schools. Period."

In the letter sent to state and county officials Monday, Luedtke and Glass called for a halt to Jackson Lewis' investigation, citing the firm's existing relationship with the school district. According to a separate MoCo360 report, government data showed the district paid Jackson Lewis at least $110,000 over the past two years.

In a statement provided to MoCo360, the Montgomery County Education Association described Jackson Lewis as an "anti-worker law firm that has assisted organizations [sic] overcome sexual harassment claims in the past."

"Given the scale and scope of allegations employees provided to MCPS, an investigation needs to focus on why MCPS management failed to protect staff and instead promoted the principal," the statement read. "MCPS has now chosen to conduct a second investigation of their complaints using a firm that specializes in protecting management from sexual harassment claims, not in ensuring safe working conditions for employees."

At a Tuesday news conference, Silvestre said Jackson Lewis is reporting directly to the Board of Education, the Post reported. She also said the investigation would take place in two parts. The first will address potential failures within the district, while the second will look directly into the allegations against Biedleman.

"We want to know who, what, when and why," McKnight said, according to the Post. "Anyone who is implicated in wrongdoing will be held accountable."