Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY- Montgomery County residents spoke to the MCPS School Board regarding a resident, Lindsey Rich, who had previously run for a school board seat, being removed from being a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools.
During the public address portion of the meeting, many Montgomery County residents came out to address the school board regarding accusations concerning the board and the removal of Rich’s name from the substitute list for MCPS during a previous closed meeting.
Robin Wilson, current MCPS Substitute and Montgomery County resident, spoke on the shortage of substitutes in Montgomery County, stating that she’s had to turn off her phone because of the number of calls throughout the day from substitute positions needing to be filled.
“I’m proud of our schools,” Wilson said, “I’m proud of the kids that go there. I’m proud of the kids that stood before you tonight, and if there were any political or religious reasons for you to take [Rich] off that list, I ask that you revisit that because that is wrong. I ask that you revisit her application for a substitute because the county is in such dire need. It is in your hands that we hire good people to instruct our children. I would like to think that when I walk into a school, that the administration is relieved to know they have someone that loves the kids, cares for the kids, and maybe educates the kids too. As a substitute, I think Lindsay would do a great job at that and I ask that you revisit that.”
Rich, her family and many residents spoke and questioned why the school board did not hire her. Some of those who spoke questioned why she was removed and whether or not it was due to discrimination due to political beliefs. Rich and her children expressed that since her run for a seat on the school board, they have experienced harassment. Residents, like Zachary Kemp, who spoke to the board asked the board to release a statement addressing the accusations toward them and address why the board did not hire Rich. Not all of those who spoke were against the choice to not hire Rich.
Betty Thomas, a student from Christiansburg, spoke to the board regarding some of the statements Rich has made in the past.
“Over the evening,” Thomas said, “I have heard multiple people come up here and talked about how qualified Lindsay Rich is to be a substitute teacher. May I remind you how Lindsay Rich attacked several people during the campaign, myself included. She drew me and my family through the mud countless times simply because I am a hardcore trans activist. She had said several times that she would not protect many of the kids in your school system simply because of their gender identity. I agree with the decision you made to keep Lindsay Rich from being a substitute teacher as her being in the building could make your students feel uncomfortable and scared. Students should feel safe in their schools; they should not be afraid of their teachers or substitute teachers. What you did is the right thing.”
The Montgomery County Public Schools School Board did not make any comment during the Oct. 1, 2024 meeting and has not released a statement at this time.
