Teacher and the Principal Involved on Administrative Leave Over Hitler Bio

June 3, 2021
Dear Tenafly Families, Staff and Community Members,

I want to provide an update on the situation at Maugham Elementary School and outline the steps the school district is
taking to address it.

As many know, I am conducting an investigation to understand how a 5th grade assignment that violates the district’s curriculum was allowed to happen and remained displayed even after some in the school community expressed concerns about its appropriateness. This has had a devastating impact on the student involved and their family, who have been thrown into turmoil through no fault of their own. It has also been incredibly painful for our Jewish community members in the face of increasing instances of antisemitism around the country.

While the investigation remains ongoing, I have placed the teacher and the principal involved on administrative leave pending the investigation’s ultimate findings. They will remain on leave pending the conclusion of my investigation, recommendations to the Board, and the Board’s further action. I also have recommended that the Board appoint an acting principal and replacement teacher at Maugham immediately.

The district has specific guidelines and curriculum designed to teach difficult and sensitive material to students in a way that ensures the parents are informed and part of the process, and that students receive information in an appropriate and respectful way. Our initial review indicates that the curriculum and learning standards were not appropriately implemented and an attempt to individualize the project resulted in the student receiving misguided instruction from the teacher. The posting of the resulting project was offensive and inappropriate and directly violated the school Board’s policies.

Policies are only useful if they are enforced, and the ongoing investigation will seek to understand why they were not enforced with this assignment, and what steps are necessary to ensure something like this does not happen again. Our investigation will also examine where mistakes were made and why the principal at the school did not act on concerns that were raised, as well as how to strengthen those internal processes. I look forward to sharing more about how the school district can make concrete changes that prevent similar issues in the future.

The events that have unfolded represent a failure in both providing the safe learning environment that all our kids need to learn and grow, as well as a failure in the school’s initial handling. We value the feedback we have heard from parents, teachers, religious and cultural leaders, and many other concerned Tenafly residents. I hope this investigation
demonstrates how seriously we take what has happened and our commitment to creating a safe and comfortable environment for our children to learn about the world.

Finally, Maugham parents who have been directly impacted by these events should expect additional communication soon with more detail on the immediate next steps. The safety and well-being of Maugham School students, staff, and community remain at the forefront of our commitment to continued excellence in education.

I am always available to answer questions or provide more information at 201-816-4502 or at sdemarco@tenafly.k12.nj.us.

Thank you for all your support,
Shauna C. DeMarco
Shauna C. DeMarco
Superintendent, Tenafly Public Schools