A Montgomery County Public Schools teacher says she was placed on administrative leave after she refused to wear a face covering at school, defying the district’s mandate that everyone must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
In a series of Facebook posts on Tuesday and Wednesday, special education teacher Angela Harders wrote that when she reported for the first day of teachers’ pre-service week on Monday at Paint Branch High School, she chose to “go to work with a smile on my face instead of a mask” and refused to wear a face covering when asked by school administrators.
In her posts, Harders wrote that she has a medical and religious reason to not wear a face covering, but she has not received a response to a request from the district for an exemption. She also wrote several times that she disagrees with the district’s mask requirement and called it “discriminatory.”
“I will not be forced, coerced, or bullied into doing anything that violates my conscience or the Constitution,” she wrote in one post on Tuesday. “We are at a crossroads as a nation, and I am praying that every single one of you reading this will find the strength within yourself to take the road less traveled.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Harders posted a picture of a formal letter she received from Paint Branch Principal Afie Mirshah informing her she was being placed on administrative leave for not complying with the mask mandate.
Harders could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday morning.
School district spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala confirmed in a text message to Bethesda Beat that “there was an incident at Paint Branch that involved a staff member who refused to wear a mask.” She declined further comment because it is a “personnel-related matter.”
The incident was first reported by The Washington Post.
MCPS announced in late July that it will require face masks indoors for all students, employees and visitors during the fall semester, in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The Maryland State Board of Education is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to decide whether a similar mandate should be implemented statewide.
Teachers reported this week for pre-service activities in advance of the district’s more than 160,000 students returning for the first day of school on Monday.
In one video from Wednesday, Harders is seen sitting at a desk when someone Harders addresses as Dr. Mirshah — the school principal — enters the room. Mirshah says she wants “what’s best for you” and that Harders is making “a big mistake because we have no choice but to adhere to the Montgomery County guidelines.”
Mirshah told Harders she was being “insubordinate and noncompliant.”
In a later video, a male staff member is heard asking Harders to wear a mask, and when she refuses, he asks her to leave the property.
Shortly after, Harders posted a picture of the letter notifying her she was placed on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.
The letter said “an immediate investigation into this matter will be conducted” and that Harders is not allowed on MCPS property or to communicate with staff, students or parents while on leave.
Asked for comment on Wednesday night, Montgomery County Education Association President Jennifer Martin directed Bethesda Beat to a statement released by the union in mid-August that expresses support for MCPS’ mask mandate.
“MCEA fully supports the MCPS guidance on masking and vaccinations, namely that masks are required at all times in school buildings for both vaccinated and unvaccinated folks, and that educators must show proof of vaccination or be tested weekly,” the statement said.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
