Sunday Read: Honoring Educators Who Raise Their Voice
As we welcome the crisp September air and settle into the rhythm of the school year, we take the time to recognize the educators and staff members who teach and protect students across the country.
In an effort to increase transparency, many educators have blown the whistle to expose corruption, discrimination and fraud in the school system. Some of these individuals have made headlines for their bravery and others are honorees of the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), and have received public acknowledgment.
This Sunday Read will put a spotlight on educators who raised their voices after witnessing wrongdoing and experiencing retaliation.
Marlon Ray and Carolyn Jackson-King
Marlon Ray and Carolyn Jackson-King were two highly respected administrators at Lawrence E. Boone Elementary in Washington, D.C., whose whistleblower cases underscore how racism and discrimination are still embedded in public and private educational systems.
In 2017, DC Public Schools (DCPS), where Ray and King were employed, contracted Relay Graduate School of Education to conduct staff training and evaluated 20 DCPS schools — mostly from schools in majority Black and low-income Wards 7 and 8.
Relay is not a graduate school, despite its title. “[Relay] has no scholars, no researchers, no faculty other than charter teachers,” noted education historian Diane Ravitch. “It is a trade school for teaching tricks of test-taking and how to control black and brown children and teach them to obey orders without questioning.”
As reported in Whistleblower Network News, Jackson-King felt that Relay training contributed to the “school-to-prison pipeline” by militarizing schools and trying to strip educators and students of their agency.
Early in the 2019–2020 school year, Jackson-King shared her concerns with the new instructional superintendent who had recently begun overseeing Boone. At the end of that year, Jackson-King received her lowest evaluation score in 30 years of teaching: a 2.75/4. She tried to appeal the score, but the new superintendent informed her that the score meant she would not be re-appointed as principal. Jackson-King was fired.
Marlon Ray, a DCPS employee for more than 20 years and the former director of strategy and logistics at Boone, was one of the community members involved in protests after Jackson-King’s termination. He had also filed previous whistleblower complaints, including for the overpayment of Relay Training.
Forbes reported that Ray was first retaliated against by Jackson-King’s replacement principal, who reprimanded him for participating in the peaceful protests. He was consequently the only school employee assigned the unsafe requirement to work five full days a week onsite at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Ray was let go in 2021 after being told his position was terminated for budgetary reasons; yet DCPS posted a vacancy online for the same position just two months later.
In February 2022, Ray and Jackson-King filed suit against DCPS and the District of Columbia, alleging that DCPS violated the Whistleblower Protection Act and the D.C. Human Rights Act. Both have sued DCPS for retaliation and reinstatement of their jobs.
“Both of these cases underscore how whistleblowing can expose discrimination in the very schools and institutions that are supposed to provide a level playing field for all students,” said NWC Executive Director Siri Turner.
Attendees of NWC’s National Whistleblower Day celebration on July 27, 2023, will recall Ray’s presence, which was a highlight of the session, “Recognizing Whistleblowers.”
For his bravery, Ray received a Proclamation from Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recognizing July 30, 2023 as Whistleblower Appreciation Day. The proclamation celebrates the origins of whistleblower law in the United States, commends whistleblowers who are often penalized for doing the right thing, and encourages D.C. government employees to know their rights to blow the whistle.
“Marlon Ray and Carolyn Jackson-King spoke out against discrimination targeting youths, and for that reason alone, they should be celebrated,” Turner said. “NWC is hopeful that their whistleblower claims will resolve favorably, and they can safely and confidently return to education.”
Learn More on YouTube
NWC hosted its annual National Whistleblower Day celebration on Capitol Hill on July 30, 2024. While it was broadcast live on C-SPAN, videos are publicly accessible via NWC’s YouTube channel.
NWC has upgraded the viewer experience as the videos capture speakers’ individual addresses from the Russell Senate Office Building, which range from 4 to 12 minutes.
Whether you want to hear from bipartisan allies in government, like Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), whistleblowers like Jane Turner (FBI) or Ed Pierson (Boeing), or are curious about international perspectives from Mexico City-based Litigation Attorney Carlos G. Guerrero Orozco, a range of viewpoints are available.
“NWC is so grateful to DMV Productions for donating videography services to NWC ensuring that viewers have almost immediate access to our fantastic National Whistleblower Day videos,” said NWC Executive Director Siri Turner. “Most importantly, we understand that it can be difficult to make it to Capitol Hill. And we are grateful that these videos — available for free on YouTube — will allow more people to learn something valuable from National Whistleblower Day 2024 and draw inspiration from speakers’ bravery and leadership.”
Resources For Whistleblowers
The decision to come forward is not one to be taken lightly, nor should selecting a whistleblower lawyer. NWC provides resources that can connect you with the right legal professional.
You can also learn more about the type of whistleblower lawyer needed for your claim in Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right, written by NWC Founder and Chairman of the Board Stephen M. Kohn.
Support NWC
NWC fights to bolster whistleblower programs and raise awareness about the value of whistleblowers. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit our work is made possible with the support of our generous donors. Please consider donating $100 today to help us continue to educate the public about whistleblower experiences and the role whistleblowers play in putting an end to fraud and money laundering. Donors of $100 or more will receive a copy of Rules For Whistleblowers.
This story was written by Justin Smulison, a professional writer, podcaster, and event host based in New York.