Parents rejoice as ‘bully’ school superintendent is suspended over claims she threatened students who failed to clap hard enough when her DAUGHTER won award at banquet

The superintendent of a California school board has been placed on paid administrative leave amid allegations that she bullied students who did not clap enthusiastically enough when her daughter won an award.

Marian Kim Phelps has been superintendent of the 36,000-student Poway Unified School District north of San Diego since April 2017.

In May 2023, she allegedly threatened students at Del Norte High School following an end-of-season awards ceremony for the softball team.

Her daughter Jessica Phelps won an award at the banquet, and Marian Kim Phelps felt some of her teammates didn’t show enough enthusiasm for Jessica’s award.

The superintendent allegedly contacted the students by text message late at night to demand that they apologize or they would lose their graduation privileges.

Phelps’ daughter Jessica Phelps wins an award at the softball end-of-year banquet in May 2023

Phelps contacted a student after 11 p.m. to say they needed to talk

A screenshot of a text message shows Phelps contacting a student at 11:04 p.m., asking, “Can I call you now?”

The student answers, “Yes!”

In November, one of the students sued, accusing Phelps of waging a campaign of punishment and intimidation against her and her teammates.

An outside law firm was retained and Phelps was suspended on Thursday over what the board said was a “sensitive point” in the investigation.

The firm, Dannis Woliver Kelley, is investigating the conduct of district staff, students, administrators and the superintendent.

“We have reached a sensitive point in the investigation and have received information about the impact of this process,” the board said in the statement.

“In an effort to avoid distractions and ensure continued focus on the district’s business and commitment to serving our students and community, the board is placing the Superintendent on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.”

Phelps said her daughter was bullied by another Del Norte High student, but denied threatening other students.

“I have never, ever made threats toward any student or attempted to prevent them from graduating,” she said in a statement in November.

Phelps served as school district president beginning in 2017 and was Superintendent of the Year in 2021

Phelps denied threatening another student, but said she believed her daughter was being bullied

But parents and students have been appalled by Phelps’ behavior, and protests have been organized at board meetings with signs reading “clapping is a freedom of speech” and “stop the abuse of power.”

Ted Buchen, a parent of a Del Norte High student, shared NBC News he was “relieved” that Phelps had been placed on leave.

“We’ve been to four or five board meetings with several people in the community,” Buchen said. “We have sent multiple text messages and emails to real board members. More than 100 pages of evidence were provided to board members, and none of it seemed to move the needle.

“So many families were cutting their necks and going to board meetings and risking vilification in the community because their kids didn’t play softball, whatever it may be.

‘And the board initially didn’t listen to my opinion.’

Ted Buchen, a parent of a Del Norte High student, wondered 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,” she said.

Alan Stockton, head coach of the Del Norte High junior varsity softball team for 13 years, shared The San Diego Union Tribune 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 now.

“I’m happy that the girls will hopefully see what they stood up for come to justice.

“They are the ones most affected by all of this.”

An interim or replacement superintendent is expected to be announced in the coming days.