Latest news with #Bethesda-ChevyChaseHighSchool
New York Post
16-07-2025
- New York Post
Maryland teacher claims in lawsuit he was falsely branded ‘racist' over seating chart dispute
A Maryland high school teacher is taking legal action, claiming he was accused of being a racist after a classroom dispute over seating assignments was mishandled by the school administration. Dan Engler, a former health and English teacher and head coach of the rowing team at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) in Montgomery County, filed a lawsuit against Principal Shelton L. Mooney and the Montgomery County Public School Board, accusing them of defamation and violating school policy in their handling of a February 2023 classroom incident. According to the complaint, two students in Engler's first-period health class asked to sit next to their friends instead of in their assigned seats. Engler, citing the importance of using a seating chart to learn student names and avoid confusion, asked the students — who are Black — to return to their assigned seats. The students refused and remained where they were. Later that day, the students reported the interaction to the assistant principal, alleging Engler told them he would not be able to tell them apart from other students, believing this to be a racial comment. 4 Dan Engler is a former health and English teacher and head coach of the rowing team at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) in Montgomery County. Dan Engler / Facebook 'Part of the misunderstanding may have stemmed from an incident in Engler's English class the previous spring,' his attorney wrote in the opposition to the defendants' motion for summary judgment. The filing explained that Engler had read a quote from Muhammad Ali containing a racial slur, which offended some students. Engler apologized, and an investigation determined it was not a 'hate bias incident.' The students involved in the health class had reportedly heard about the English class incident and had previously asked not to be placed in Engler's class, believing him to be racist. Following the students' report, Principal Mooney was instructed by his superiors to follow the 'hate bias incident' protocol. The next day, he informed Engler that he would be placed on paid administrative leave for one day while the incident was under investigation. 4 Engler, citing the importance of using a seating chart to learn student names and avoid confusion, asked the students — who are Black — to return to their assigned seats. The students refused and remained in place. Dan Engler / Facebook Two days after the incident, Mooney sent a community-wide email to parents, teachers, staff and students reporting that a 'hate bias incident' had occurred at the school. The message said that 'several African American students' were told by a teacher that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom and that the Montgomery County Police Department had been notified as an internal investigation was ongoing. 'Let me be clear, discrimination of any kind must not be tolerated,' Mooney wrote before citing the school policy against 'insensitivity, disrespect, bias, verbal abuse, harassment, bullying, physical violence or illegal discrimination toward any person.' Although Engler was not named in the email, he said he was quickly identified by students, parents and colleagues. He maintains that he did not make the statement attributed to him in the letter and he 'did not do anything that could reasonably be classified as a 'hate bias incident.'' 4 Engler is suing Principal Shelton L. Mooney and the Montgomery County Public School Board. Shelton Mooney / Linkedin The complaint alleges that Engler had his 'reputation destroyed by the malicious acts of B-CC's Principal, Defendant Shelton L. Mooney, who falsely accused Engler of racism in a thoughtless, half-baked community-wide email.' The lawsuit further claims that Mooney and the school board violated MCPS policies and procedures by sending the community-wide email before an investigation was completed and that they refused to issue a retraction or apology. When Engler returned to work the following week, Mooney allegedly 'refused to discuss the matter' with Engler. Upon returning to his classroom, Engler said he was 'upset' to find MCPS and B-CC staff holding a 'restorative justice' circle in his classroom that they excluded him from joining. Engler told Fox News Digital that the experience took a heavy toll on his mental health. The same day, he went on disability leave for a year and a half before resuming teaching at another school in the district. 4 Following the students' report, Principal Mooney was instructed by his superiors to follow the 'hate bias incident' protocol. Google St View 'I love teaching. I love coaching,' he said. 'And I really care a great deal about the relationships I have with those kids and helping them learn how to become adults in the best way possible. To lose the confidence of the kids, the trust of the kids, based on what the kids' leadership had to say about me, was devastating. It was identity stealing.' According to the complaint, Engler ultimately faced no disciplinary action and the defendants' investigation allegedly failed to find sufficient evidence that the classroom incident constituted a 'hate bias incident.' 'However, the damage to Engler had already been done. Mooney's malicious email falsely branded Engler a racist, destroying his reputation in the B-CC community, causing him deep emotional distress, making it impossible to continue teaching at B-CC, and causing the loss of his position as Head Coach of the B-CC Rowing Team,' it continued. Engler criticized the school's handling of the incident as 'a tremendous opportunity for virtue signaling.' 'It really was, and I'm paying the price,' he told Fox News Digital. Engler said his reputation has been damaged, and the legal fight has cost his family over $300,000. After attempting to resolve the dispute through administrative proceedings, Engler filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court in August 2023. Engler's case proceeded to trial on Monday. Fox News Digital reached out multiple times to the lawyers for the defendants on the allegations and did not receive a response. The MCPS Board of Education said it was unable to comment on pending litigation. Mooney did not return a request for comment.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alexandria brewery owner worries about Trump administration-imposed tariffs
WASHINGTON () — President Donald Trump has now enacted tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, prompting many businesses in the D.C. area to worry about the potential impact on customers. The owner of Port City Brewing in Alexandria said the tariffs will hurt his business and may lead to fewer customers. 'It's very frustrating because it's hard enough running a small business when your supply chain is intact,' owner Bill Butcher explained. 'But when you have these ridiculous disruptions in the supply chain, it just causes chaos.' Customers echoed Butcher's frustrations. Montgomery County leaders organize community meeting at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School 'I just ordered a case here, so, if the prices go up, I honestly don't know how often I'd order it again because it's already like $15,' said customer D.J. Butcher said his bottle caps are made in Mexico, and their bottles and base malts for all their beers come from Canada. 'If these tariffs hold, there will be an increase in our prices,' he said. The U.S. is now taxing imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%, while tariffs on China went from 10% to 20%. In response, the three countries announced retaliatory tariffs on American imports. 'There could be some temporary short-term disruption and people will understand that. The tariffs are going to make us very rich and very strong,' Trump said about the tariffs. Contrary to Trump's optimism, Butcher worries the higher prices from these tariffs will scare customers away. 'It'd be a pretty decent impact,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Montgomery County parents petition for metal detectors in schools after gun incidents
The Brief Montgomery County parents are petitioning to have metal detectors installed in schools. The push comes following two incidents involving firearms at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. An MCPS spokesperson tells FOX 5 that they are currently exploring weapon detection systems. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - Concerned parents are demanding action after two separate lockdowns within a two-week span at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Both incidents involved teens bringing guns either into the school or near it and parents want to see new safety measures taken. A petition is being circulated among B-CC parents in hopes of making Montgomery County Public Schools add metal detectors in its 40 middle schools and 29 high schools. There's been an increase in gun violence across the country. According to the K-12 school shooting database, there have been 29 school shootings in 2025 alone, and the recent incidents at B-CC have put the community on high alert. Montgomery County is Maryland's largest school system. The petition calls on the superintendent to put the screening machines in place, claiming the 10 largest school districts in the country already have them. Neighboring Prince George's County started their school year with students being scanned while Fairfax County is currently reviewing its safety measures as well. What they're saying "I feel it's pretty justified considering how rampant the gun violence has been lately and over the last couple years we've had a lot of instances that seem to be kind of swept under, they aren't really in the public eye as much," Mitchell Nijerick said. "So it seems like it shouldn't even be a question if I'm to be honest" READ MORE:Bethesda-Chevy Chase student charged after bringing Airsoft gun to school After the past few weeks where guns were in the hands of teens, to many, the solution seems obvious. "Personally, I think it's a good thing. It's a good thing because we've had too much gun violence and you know I mean driving to work today. I had it on the news that you know they were done. The school has shut down everything but I think it's a good idea that you have metal detectives to come to school before they enter it," Thomas Dakwa said. But some want the safety measures to go even further. READ MORE: No bond for Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS student accused of firing shots during fight near school "I think it's a great idea to provide security for schools," Tom Simpson said. "I prefer armed guards — that's the maximum deterrent and a metal detector doesn't pick up a 3D gun that can be manufactured with plastic and so as a result, I think a human being with an armed gun is probably a better solution to be honest." What's next An MCPS spokesperson tells FOX 5 that they are currently exploring weapon detection systems but that any implementation would require planning and integration wth existing safety protocols.
