Investigation finds Monroe schools superintendent ‘created toxic work environment’

An outside investigation of misconduct allegations against the superintendent of the Monroe School District has found that the school official abused his authority by engaging in intimidating, bullying behavior.

Fifty people, including current and former staff of all levels within the district, were interviewed for the report, which was prepared for Seattle lawyer Kris Cappel with the Seabold Group. Audio and video recordings, email and text messages and other various notes and documents were provided by witnesses.

Dr. Justin Blasko was hired in 2010 as the Monroe School District’s executive director of human resources, a role he served in until 2016 when he was promoted to assistant superintendent. Dr. Blasko was sworn in as superintendent in April 2020.

According to the Seabold Group report, allegations against Dr. Blasko first arose in connection with a Monroe Board of Directors meeting in December 2021. Teachers, students, parents and community members were there to express concerns about racism and other forms of mistreatment of marginalized students in the district.

During those discussions, concerns were also brought forth about Dr. Blasko’s alleged inappropriate behavior and “lack of leadership.” In connection with the December meeting, the Monroe Equity Council submitted a nine-page letter that included incidents of “incivility, intimidation and abuse of authority” involving Dr. Blasko.

Days after the board of directors meeting, the Monroe Principals Association submitted a statement expressing that the association has lost confidence in Dr. Blasko because he had created a “culture of fear, mistrust and toxicity.”

Dr. Blasko was put on administrative leave by the district that same month.

Many complaints against Dr. Blasko were similar in that they “included the perception that his first priority is self-preservation and his public image.” Some witnesses said that Dr. Blasko led through fear and intimidation and “created a toxic work environment that permeates throughout the district.”

Other witnesses accused Dr. Blasko of making comments that they viewed as insensitive, unprofessional and cruel. Multiple witnesses said they heard him refer to women with sexist expletives, or “evil.”

Dr. Blasko denied making such comments, but the investigation concluded that he was not forthcoming.

Three witnesses reported that they heard Dr. Blasko refer to a woman of color who was assisting with teacher’s union-related matters as an “angry BIPOC woman trying to prove herself.” Other witnesses say that Dr. Blasko said the woman was “such an evil (expletive)” and that he “feels sorry for her husband.”

In a letter on November 16, 2020, Dr. Blasko directed first-grade teachers to report for “in-person/on-site instruction” the following day, November 17, or risk being fired.

The Monroe Education Association (MEA), however, believed that he was acting in bad faith, citing a September 2020 Memorandum of Understanding which stated that “remote instruction is the main instructional model with the ability to serve Monroe’s neediest students with limited in-person services.”

The MEA filed a grievance and unfair labor practice claim, which it won. According to the report, Dr. Blasko’s letter ordering teachers back to the classroom under the threat of termination “resulted in further erosion of trust between Dr. Blasko and the MEA that he was never able to restore.”

The report says that on several occasions, Dr. Blasko was reported to have said that the former MEA president was “the worst thing that ever happened to this district.” Dr. Blasko denied making the comments.

Dr. Blasko was also reported to have referred to the current MEA president as a “(expletive)” or “evil (expletive).”

Other comments attributed to Dr. Blasko by witnesses include calling two former female administrators “bipolar,” referring to a director as a “(expletive) idiot” and saying he would’ve fired them but for the lawyers, and publicly joking about a male staff member who is known to paint his fingernails.

Dr. Blasko told one staff member that he had determined that only women disliked him, and that it was because they couldn’t handle “really masculine men.” “I’m as masculine as they come; there’s nothing I can do about my masculinity,” he said, according to the report.

In a written statement on Thursday, Dr. Blasko apologized for his actions, calling the allegations made against him “deeply troubling.”

“As I dealt with the stress brought on by the pandemic, I acknowledge that I did not always keep my emotions in check,” he said. “At times my professionalism lapsed, and I vented my frustration in private meetings with colleagues. I should have exercised more discretion … I extend my sincere apologies to those who were hurt by my actions. As a professional and a person, I commit to continued growth and learning so I can be a stronger educator, husband, father and community member.”

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