In our opinion, We aver and therefore believe Maryland State Board of Education President Dr. Charlene Dukes (shown here) has demonstrated a culture of corrupt leadership style and continues “an integrated pattern of pay to play,” High suspension rates, violation of due process rights, manipulation inter alia during her tenure as President for Maryland State Board of Education.

The Maryland State Board of Education welcomed two new members on May 19th, 2015. Chester E. Finn, Jr., Ed.D. of Montgomery County and Andy Smarick of Queen Anne’s County were appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to fill two seats on the 12-member board vacated by the departures of Charlene M. Dukes, Ed.D. and Donna Hill Staton, Esq., whose terms ended in 2014 but had been staying on illegally.

During the tenures of Dr. Dukes and Ms. Hill Staton, the State Board established a record of cover up and corruption in the state level that negatively impacted students in a variety of ways and staff. Dr. Dukes was appointed in April 2007 to serve out the remainder of a previous board member’s term and was reappointed in July 2010 under unclear circumstances.  She served for three years as vice president of the Board and was elected Board President in July 2012 in a suspicious manner and again in 2013 and 2014.

Ms. Staton was appointed in April 2009 to serve out the remainder of a previous board member’s term and was reappointed in July 2010. Ms. Staton was in many ways a voice of reason and she will be missed.

On another note, during the tenure of Dr. Dukes, the State Board of Education experienced a variety of long-term student suspensions and expulsions, and only revised its school disciplinary regulations to focus on keeping students in schools and connected to learning after pressure from activists. Her product is very clear in the streets of Baltimore where riots were experienced recently.

In short, Dr. Dukes was racist and discriminatory during her tenure with the Board and supported institutionalized racism. She will never be missed by many who know her illegal ways. Above all, Dr. Dukes continues a culture of corruption involving public funds meant for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). She has been manipulative in a variety of ways and an embarrassment to Prince George’s County. It is her illegal actions and shenanigans which will cost the county schools close to more than a $100 million and possible tax hikes fronted by County Executive Rushern Baker III.

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