A school superintendent was fired after a campaign of harassment against girls who she said did not applaud her daughter enough.
Marian Kim Phelps was unanimously removed by the Poway Unified School District board this week after she “lost confidence in her ability.”
Phelps’ vendetta against 10 softball players on her daughter’s team in the 36,000-student school district north of San Diego began nearly 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 that lasted until April 18.
“The investigation brought to light 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 by the Poway Unified School District board this week after she “lost confidence in her ability.”
Phelps’ daughter, Jessica Phelps, is seen in May 2023 winning an award at the softball year-end banquet. Phelps claimed his teammates didn’t applaud enough
His daughter Jessica Phelps was named most valuable player of a softball team at Del Norte High School at an end-of-season banquet on May 30 of last year.
Phelps felt that some of her teammates did not show enough enthusiasm for Jessica’s praise and applauded louder for other girls who received awards.
She responded by texting one of them that same night and spoke on the phone for more than half an hour, trying to prove there was a conspiracy against Jessica.
A screenshot showed Phelps contacting the student at 11:04 p.m. and asking, ‘Can I call you now?’
The student answers: ‘Yes!’
When Phelps didn’t get the admission he wanted, he launched a months-long investigation into the 10 girls and allegedly threatened to ban them from attending his own graduation.
She responded by texting one of them that same night and spoke on the phone for more than half an hour, trying to prove there was a conspiracy against Jessica.
One of the students filed a lawsuit in November, accusing Phelps of waging a campaign of punishment and harassment against her and her teammates.
Their lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court alleged the intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence in properly training district employees, and a violation of their First Amendment rights.
She claimed that Phelps’ investigation ended when she was forced to admit to bullying Jessica or be kicked off the team and her own graduation.
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, correspondence included in the lawsuit shows.
The document promised that it would not make “bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats or derogatory statements,” although it never did.
The student claimed she ultimately signed the document against her will so she could rejoin the softball team for her senior year.
Her lawsuit also claims that Phelps followed social media accounts of private travel softball teams that the girl also played on, which then blocked Phelps.
Then, at the Nov. 9 meeting, senior shortstop Miranda Mosqueda stood up, supported by six teammates, and demanded that the board of directors intervene.
Senior shortstop Miranda Mosqueda stood up, supported by six teammates, at a Nov. 9 school board meeting and demanded to intervene.
He said Phelps “made life hell for 10 seniors, threatening to exclude them from their own graduation if they didn’t admit that they had done something they didn’t do.”
“She used her power and influence to intimidate our students and essentially break up our softball program,” he said.
“Many of us are afraid to play our year for fear of being harassed and intimidated.”
Former Del Norte softball coach Tom Peronto said he complained to the board about the “illegitimate” investigation of Phelps, but was ignored.
“As coaches presenting awards, we had the best view of the night’s events. However, no coach was consulted about the events of that night,” he said.
He claimed that when he found out, Phelps made false accusations about him and tried to get him fired from the team.
Two parents and another team coach also spoke out in support of the 10 students and demanded that the board of directors finally act.
An outside law firm was hired and in February Phelps was suspended for what the board considered a “sensitive point” in the investigation.
The firm, Dannis Woliver Kelley, investigated the conduct of district staff, students, administrators and the superintendent.
Phelps has presided over the school district since 2017 and in 2021 was superintendent of the year
Phelps claimed his daughter was being bullied by another Del Norte High student, but denied threatening other students.
“Never at any time have I threatened any student or attempted to prevent them from graduating,” he said in a statement in November.
But parents and students were upset by Phelps’ behavior and at board meetings they staged protests with signs saying “applauding is free speech” and “stop abuse of power.”
Ted Buchen, parent of a Del Norte High student, said NBC News he was “relieved” that Phelps had been placed on leave.
“Between several people in the community, we have 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 have been provided to board members, and none of it seemed to change the situation.
‘Many families cut their throats and attended board meetings and risked defamation in the community, since their children did not play softball, whatever it was.
“And in my opinion, at first the board didn’t listen.”
Ted Buchen, 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 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 have questions about why now, because the board has had evidence for months,” he said.
Alan Stockton, head coach of Del Norte High’s junior varsity softball team for 13 years, said The San Diego Union Grandstand that paid leave 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.
“I’m glad that the girls see that what they defended comes to justice.
“They are the most affected by all this.”