MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — The principal of Wootton High School has been placed on leave after a racist slur was discovered written on a Black student’s desk, marking the second reported racist incident at the school in eight months.
In a letter to the community, Montgomery County Chief of Schools Dr. Peter Moran revealed that the anti-Black statement, which included the N-word, was found on Dec. 2. Moran expressed deep regret over the incident, stating, “This act has not only hurt the individual student but also inflicted harm on Black students, families, and staff, creating a sense of exclusion and insecurity.”
Moran criticized the delayed reporting of the incident, which wasn’t communicated to parents until later that week, further exacerbating the harm. “This delay left many in our community feeling unwelcome and unsafe, undermining their sense of belonging at Wootton High School,” Moran wrote.
The principal, Douglas Nelson, was placed on leave a week after the discovery. In response, Moran issued a second letter outlining the district’s plan to address the incident and prevent future occurrences.
Actions and Next Steps
The district’s response includes:
- Mandatory training for Wootton staff on policies for reporting hate and bias incidents.
- Professional development to better equip staff to respond to such incidents effectively and compassionately.
- Planning a community dialogue session to provide a platform for students, caregivers, and others to share their concerns. Details on the session’s timing and location will be announced soon.
Dr. Moran acknowledged the broader impact of racism at Wootton, noting its long-standing harm. He assured the community that Montgomery County Public Schools is committed to addressing hate and bias through meaningful action, although he recognized that the process would be challenging and require time.
“We will move forward with a unified commitment to combat hate and racism,” Moran said, pledging regular updates on the district’s progress.
