A school principal has been fired after a campaign of harassment against girls, which she said did not give her daughter enough praise.
Marian Kim Phelps was unanimously removed from her position by the Poway Unified School District board this week after she “lost confidence in her abilities.”
Phelps’ vendetta against 10 softball players on his daughter’s team in the 36,000-student school district north of San Diego began almost a year ago.
But it wasn’t until players, parents and coaches raised the issue with the board on Nov. 9 that an investigation began and lasted until April 18.
“The investigation uncovered previously unknown evidence with witnesses with direct first-hand knowledge that contradicted Dr. Phelps’ statements and assertions to the board, district staff and the public,” the board’s statement said.
Marian Kim Phelps was unanimously removed from her position by the Poway Unified School District board this week after ‘losing confidence in her abilities’
Phelps’ daughter, Jessica Phelps, is seen in May 2023 winning an award at the softball year-end banquet. Phelps said his teammates didn’t cheer enough
Her daughter Jessica Phelps was named the most valuable player on a Del Norte High School softball team at an end-of-season banquet on May 30 of last year.
Phelps felt some of her teammates didn’t show enough enthusiasm for Jessica’s honor and clapped louder for the other girls who received awards.
She responded by texting one of them later that night and spoke on the phone for over half an hour, trying to prove there was a plot against Jessica.
A screenshot showed Phelps contacting the student at 11:04 p.m. and asking, “Can I call you now?”
The student responds: “Yes!” »
When Phelps didn’t get the admission she wanted, she launched a months-long investigation into the 10 girls and allegedly threatened to bar them from earning their own degrees.
She responded by texting one of them later that night and spoke on the phone for over half an hour, trying to prove there was a plot against Jessica.
One of the students filed a complaint in November, accusing Phelps of waging a campaign of punishment and harassment against her and her teammates.
His lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court alleged intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, neglect of proper training of district employees and violation of his First Amendment rights.
She claimed Phelps’ investigation ended with her being forced to admit to bullying Jessica or being banned from the team and her own degree.
The girl refused, and Del Norte’s principal told her she would be excluded from all extracurricular activities for not signing an “Other Means of Correction” document, according to correspondence included in the lawsuit.
The document promised that she would not make “intimidation, harassment, threats and derogatory statements,” even though she never did.
The student claimed she ultimately signed the document against her wishes so she could join the softball team for her senior year.
Her lawsuit also claimed that Phelps followed the social media accounts of private travel softball teams that the girl also played for, which subsequently blocked Phelps.
Then, at the Nov. 9 meeting, senior shortstop Miranda Mosqueda stood up, supported by six teammates, and demanded intervention from the board.
She said Phelps “made life hell for 10 seniors, threatening to bar them from getting their own diplomas if they didn’t admit they did something they didn’t have to do.” do”.
“She used her power and influence to intimidate our students and essentially break our softball program,” she said.
“Many of us are afraid to play our year for fear of being harassed and bullied.”
Former Del Norte softball coach Tom Peronto said he complained to the board about Phelps’ “illegitimate” investigation but was ignored.
“As the coaches presenting the awards, we had the best view of the evening’s events. Yet no coaches were consulted on the events of that evening,” he said.
He claimed that when she found out, Phelps made false accusations about him and tried to get him kicked off the team.
Two parents and another coach on the team also spoke out in support of the 10 students and demanded that the board finally take action.
An outside law firm was hired and Phelps was suspended in February over what the board called a “hot spot” in the investigation.
The Dannis Woliver Kelley firm investigated the conduct of district staff, students, administrators and the superintendent.
Phelps claimed his daughter was bullied by another student at Del Norte High, but denied threatening other students.
“At no time did I make threats toward any student or try to prevent them from graduating,” she said in a statement in November.
Phelps served as president of the school district starting in 2017 and was Superintendent of the Year in 2021.
But parents and students were upset by Phelps’ behavior and, at board meetings, held protests with signs saying that “clapping is free speech” and “stop abuse of power “.
Ted Buchen, a parent of a Del Norte High student, told NBC News he was “relieved” that Phelps was placed on leave.
“Among several people in the community, we attended four or five board meetings,” Buchen said. “We have sent several text messages and emails to actual board members.
“More than 100 pages of evidence were provided to board members, and none of it seemed to move the needle.”
“So many families tore their necks out and went to board meetings and risked vilification in the community with their kids not playing softball no matter what.
“And at first, in my opinion, the board didn’t listen.”
Ted Buchen, a parent of a Del Norte High student, questioned why it took so long for the board to act.
Rachell Babler, another parent, said the board has had evidence against Phelps “for months.”
Rachell Babler, another parent, agreed with Buchen that the board was slow to act.
“I think it’s a step in the right direction, but I wonder why now, because the council has had the evidence for months,” she said.
Alan Stockton, head coach of Del Norte High’s junior varsity softball team for 13 years, told the San Diego Union Tribune that paid time off is “a good start.”
“I don’t know why it took them so long to come to this conclusion,” he said. “This has been going on for seven or eight months now.
“I’m happy for the girls to hopefully see what they stood for brought to justice.
“They are the most affected by all of this.”
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