A seven-month investigation into Graham and Parks principal Kathleen Smith by a team hired by Cambridge Public Schools concluded that allegations of a toxic work environment were “not substantiated.”
“The district is hopeful that this resolution, along with additional support toward fostering a more inclusive and constructive learning environment, will allow the Graham & Parks community to move forward with confidence in the school's leadership and direction,” Interim Superintendent David Murphy said in an email Monday.
“A review of reliable evidence did not confirm the existence of a harmful work environment. The evidence indicates that staff had a range of experiences under Dr Smith's guidance – some were highly positive, supportive and encouraging, others less so,” the investigators concluded.
The city hired the law firm Norris Murray Peloquin to investigate, and the firm spoke with more than 80 people, Murphy said.
Despite those findings, the district said it is dedicating significant resources to repairing schools.
Smith was hired as principal of Graham and Parks Elementary School, which has 370 students. Neighborhood 9 Spring 2022. The parent community was divided over Smith's leadership style, with some criticizing it as disruptive and divisive, disrespecting family opinions and prone to favoring minorities.
A group called the Graham & Parks Caregivers Coalition circulated a petition and letter with 130 signatures in late 2023, calling on Smith to “adhere to democratic practices” that are “core” of Graham & Parks' school culture, and filed a complaint with the district about the conflict. Members subsequently discovered that Smith left the Newton Public Schools district in 2019 after an internal investigation found he had created a “toxic work environment.”
The district's hiring practices overlooked an investigation and separate lawsuit against Smith, but that suit was settled.
Investigators concluded that while “internal controls suggested that at least one additional reference check should have been completed prior to hiring Mr. Smith,” there was “no evidence that doing so would have changed the hiring outcome,” Murphy said. At Graham & Parks, investigators concluded that “many of the reported incidents appeared minor compared to the reaction they provoked.”
The investigation began in January
At the request of parents, the district opened an investigation in January using outside counsel. In the spring, the problems at the school became another example of then-Superintendent Victoria Greer's controversial hiring practices, sparking complaints from families, staff and school committee members at various schools. Greer was fired by the School Committee in May by a 5-2 vote.
“Given the extensive public attention this case has received over the last school year, Interim Superintendent Murphy has concluded that it is in the best interest of the Graham & Parks School community to make the outcome of this case public,” district spokeswoman Sujata Wycoff said Monday. “Due to confidentiality obligations to all involved regarding personnel records and information, Cambridge Public Schools will not be making any further comments regarding the closed investigation.”
Still, Murphy said, “It's clear that the 2023-2024 school year has been a challenging year for Graham & Parks.”
“Smith has clearly demonstrated how passionate she is about leading Graham and Parks towards more equitable and better outcomes for students, and her unwavering commitment to the students at her school is immediately apparent,” Murphy said.
Additional Support
Wyckoff said some of the additional support the district cited include:
During the first few weeks of school, Smith and Murphy plan to meet with Graham & Parks staff “to listen to educators' thoughts on specific steps they believe will help affirm and restore the sense of community the school has long been known for.” Town hall meetings for parents and caregivers are planned for September.
Robin Harris, the district's director of family engagement and former principal who now serves as a special adviser to the superintendent, will start at Graham & Parks on the first day of the school year. Harris' role will focus on “facilitating conversations with both staff and families about how to foster strong school environments that are grounded in equity and driven by data.”
Harris and Murphy, along with assistant superintendent for elementary schools Michelle Madera, will be holding small group discussions with staff and families at Graham and Parks to “learn more about their experiences and explore what systems can help ensure a positive and constructive school environment.”
A working group of central office administrators will be tasked with “prioritizing the cultivation of a listening-focused yet student-centered environment at Graham & Parks, consistent with their areas of expertise in curriculum implementation, data-driven accountability, and social and emotional wellness.”
Frances Bingham, a parent at the school, said the report's findings were “disappointing” and that despite the published findings, it's clear something was wrong at Graham and Parks because the district withdrew funding it had promised.
“They should make the report public,” Bingham said.
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