Ex-Damascus School Administrator Again Changes Jobs Within MCPS

GERMANTOWN, MD — Former Damascus High School principal Maniya Jules — who later took a job at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School after a drunken driving conviction — has moved to another position within Montgomery County's well-regarded public school system.

Jules, 51, became assistant principal of Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in Silver Spring on July 1, the same day she was sentenced for drunken driving, court records show. Her brief tenure ended about a month later, on Aug. 5, according to a Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman.

Col. E. Brooke Lee Principal Kim Hayden-Williams sent a letter to families on Friday, informing them of Jules' departure. As of Monday, Jules has started her new job within the MCPS Equity Initiatives Unit.

"Mrs. Jules came to Col. E. Brooke Lee with a strong background and passion for equity work. An opportunity to join the MCPS Equity Initiatives Unit presented itself in August and Mrs. Jules will join their team effective August 5, 2019," Hayden-Williams wrote. "We thank Mrs. Jules for her service this summer and wish her all the best as she embarks on this new professional endeavor."

Jules is a 22-year veteran of Montgomery County's public school system, according to her LinkedIn profile. Before becoming assistant principal at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, Jules was the assistant principal at Damascus High School, which recently received national media attention for an alleged football locker room rape as part of a hazing ritual.

In 2017 — while at Damascus — she was arrested and cited for driving under the influence of alcohol, court records reveal. Less than two years later, Jules was again charged with drunk driving.

Following that incident, Jules was put on administrative leave.

"The purpose of this message is to inform you that Ms. Maniya Jules, assistant principal of Damascus High School, will be on extended personal leave, beginning today, April 1, 2019," Damascus High School Principal Casey Crouse wrote in a letter to families, according to WJLA. "We are in the process of identifying a qualified professional to act in her role while she is on leave."

Jules was then reassigned to Col. E. Brooke Lee. Middle school parents wrote letters to the school system and voiced their frustration with the move, according to Bethesda Beat. They said it was "too soon in her recovery for her to take on a stressful position as an assistant principal at a high-needs school."

Jules left her job at the school on Aug. 5.

Patch has asked an MCPS spokeswoman why Jules has changed jobs, but she declined to comment. She instead said: "Maniya has a background and passion for equity work and wanted to pursue this opportunity to further her efforts."