Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Monifa McKnight agreed to leave the position Friday.
Statements from the Montgomery County Board of Education and from McKnight herself said they "mutually agreed to separate."
The move comes after the county’s inspector general found issues with how the school district handles complaints of employee misconduct.
The OIG was asked by the Montgomery County Council to investigate how the school district handles sexual misconduct complaints after former William H. Farquhar Middle School principal Joel Beidleman was promoted despite being accused of sexual harassment and bullying more than a dozen times over seven years. Some of those complaints weren't pursued.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
McKnight told a Montgomery County Council committee she did not know about the internal investigation into Beidleman when the school board unanimously approved his promotion to principal of Paint Branch High School.
"Given that I’m the superintendent today, it’s my responsibility to correct it and to ensure that this does not happen again," she previously told News4.
Two weeks ago, McKnight said the school board wanted her to resign without justification. She said she believed their reason was something other than her performance as superintendent. She said then she had no plans to step down.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
The Montgomery County Educators Association said last month that they supported removing McKnight.
“New revelations increasingly indicate that the superintendent has been more concerned with protecting herself and her close associates than with doing right by front-line staff and students,” their statement read in part.
At a school board meeting last week, supporters of McKnight applauded for her.
"This is a witch hunt," community advocate Lucy Hayes said.
In her statement, McKnight said the situation has become too much of a distraction.
"When the focus is no longer on whom I have agreed to serve, I must control my own fate," she said in the statement. "I have also maintained that it is critical that my reputation remains grounded in facts and truth. Effective today, after careful reflection, prayer, and willingness to demand fairness, I have reached a mutually agreed separation with the Board of Education."
The school board said it will name an interim superintendent next week and begin a national search for a permanent replacement.
“The board is aware of the important work ahead,” the school board said in its statement. “We must rebuild trust, begin to heal and ensure that our school system is equipped to serve the students, staff and families who make up our great school community.”
Board members refused to answer questions about why McKnight is leaving as they left a closed-door meeting Friday evening.
No details of any financial arrangement between the school district and McKnight were disclosed. She was earning $320,000 per year and had a four-year contract.
McKnight's attorney could not be reached for comment Friday evening.
County Executive Marc Elrich said he doesn't know why McKnight is out but he wants the reasons disclosed.
“These questions have to be answered at some point," he said.
McKnight took position during pandemic
McKnight was the first woman and second person of color to lead Maryland’s largest school district.
She is a former teacher, principal and district administrator. She joined MCPS, Maryland's largest school district, in 2001 and holds degrees from Bowie State University and the University of Maryland.
She took over as interim superintendent in March 2021 and oversaw the return to full-time in-person learning in the fall. Some schools closed as they faced a spike in COVID cases during the omicron surge.
Some parents criticized MCPS for mixed messages and confusion as COVID cases soared to more than 10,000 after the winter break. McKnight previously apologized and vowed to restore trust. She also vowed to address social issues in the school system, including violence.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
