By Adam Pagnucco.
Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi has announced the results of her first investigation of issues concerning former MCPS Principal Joel Beidleman. Her press release states, “OIG Finds MCPS Principal Engaged in Misconduct” and is reprinted, along with a link to her full report, below.
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For Immediate Release
December 1, 2023
OIG Finds MCPS Principal Engaged in Misconduct
Rockville, Maryland – Montgomery County Maryland Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi announced today the release of a new Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Memorandum of Investigation titled, Investigation of Misconduct Allegations Against Joel Beidleman, detailing the results of an OIG investigation into allegations that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) employee Dr. Joel Beidleman engaged in misconduct while serving as the principal of Farquhar Middle School.
The investigation substantiated allegations that Beidleman made repeated comments about the appearance of female subordinates, directed offensive comments and jokes of a sexual nature at subordinates, bullied subordinates, and had a sexual relationship with a subordinate over whom he had supervisory responsibility. Beidleman’s behavior created an environment where some staff members reported being afraid to disagree with him on professional matters, worried about their job security, and felt intimidated and disrespected. Beidleman’s conduct violated MCPS’s sexual harassment and workplace bullying policies, and MCPS’s Employee Code of Conduct. The results of the investigation have been referred to the Superintendent of Schools for whatever action she deems appropriate.
This investigation is one of two MCPS related engagements announced by the Inspector General on September 20, 2023. The second engagement, a review of MCPS’s process for receiving and responding to allegations of misconduct by school system employees is still in process.
The Memorandum of Investigation can be found at the following location.
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/OIG/Resources/Files/PDF/IGActivity/FY2024/MCPS_Beidleman.pdf