Montgomery County, Md. – After more than 40 Jewish leaders sent a letter warning of “skyrocketing” school‑based antisemitism, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor responded with a detailed letter outlining steps the district will take.
Letter acknowledges recent incidents
In the letter, Taylor noted several disturbing symbols uncovered in recent weeks, including a swastika on a desk at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, another swastika in a high‑school locker room, and graffiti on a bathroom wall. He admitted the district’s initial communication about the Walter Johnson incident was a “misstep” and should have explicitly identified the swastika as an antisemitic symbol.
Commitment to awareness and reporting
Taylor emphasized that the district has “made a conscious effort to raise awareness of antisemitism and how to report hate‑bias incidents.” He said the rise in reported incidents is partly due to increased awareness and better reporting mechanisms, and that the district is working to close the gap of unreported cases.
Concrete actions planned
The superintendent listed three focus areas highlighted by the Jewish leaders: professional learning for staff, experiential educational opportunities for students, and addressing harmful social‑media behavior. He affirmed that MCPS has already taken steps in each area and will continue to expand them.
To lead the effort, Taylor appointed Dr. Nyah Hamlett, the chief equity and organizational development officer, to coordinate ongoing dialogue with the Jewish pastoral leadership. He pledged personal involvement and promised “repeat, collaborative dialogue” to identify meaningful actions the district can implement.
Community response
Rabbi Adam Raskin of Congregation Har Shalom and Rabbi Sue Shankman of Washington Hebrew Congregation expressed hope for a face‑to‑face meeting and offered free programs that could be integrated into schools. “We want to be collaborative, we want to work with educators and school leaders, but we also want to see change happen in the near term because our kids and our families don’t have the luxury to wait,” Rabbi Raskin said.
Both rabbis noted that the letter has spurred additional community members to share their experiences, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
Next steps
Taylor’s letter concluded with a reaffirmation that MCPS will continue to strengthen prevention, education, reporting, support, and accountability across all schools. He invited ongoing input from the Jewish community and reiterated that his “door remains open” for further collaboration.
FOX 5 reached out for comment; the district provided the full text of Taylor’s letter but declined further remarks.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
