Malia Hollowell’s Public Comment – Nov 14, 2023 TSD School Board Meeting
by Jenn Askew
There was a school board meeting tonight. I was planning to do a recap on the meeting, but after discussion we at TV know there are really just two things people will be talking about: Former director Malia Hollowell’s public comment, and the hiring of a third party investigation firm to look into the district’s policies and training surrounding SAM.
Malia Hollowell’s Public Comment
The full content of Hollowell’s statement has already been shared online, (by the person who runs the Tahoma – A Community for Change FB group), so I’m just going to copy and paste it here:
“Two months ago, I resigned my school board seat because of the workplace hostility and emotional abuse I experienced. I was demeaned, gaslit, lied to, and called names that are too profane to repeat here tonight.
And while many of these experiences happened behind closed doors with one person, there were also dozens of events that occurred in front of other district leaders who chose to look the other way and dismiss his behavior as “a reflex” and something that just needs “a little more practice”. Let me be crystal clear – the message I received was that my voice, my leadership, my very presence in the rooms where I sat were less valuable than the men surrounding me.
Unfortunately, over the last two months, I have been heartbroken to discover that I was not alone.
As some of you already know, soon after I resigned, I initiated an external investigation into my hostile workplace experiences. But what you may not know is that the scope of that investigation has quickly multiplied. More than 20 female and nonbinary faculty, staff, and community leaders have come forward to share similar stories. In some cases, their experiences have been so traumatic that their work days and sleepless nights are now filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and debilitating stress.
We talk a lot about the word “every” around here. In fact we put it on more than 1,000 shirts just to show how important it is to us. Every does not mean 50%. It does not mean just the men or only the people who speak with the deepest voice. It means ALL.
In order to help everyone truly feel welcomed, safe, supported, and included, a new standard must be set by the leaders in this room: start SPEAKING up instead of covering up….
- When you hear a woman called a name that you would never want your mother, daughter, or wife to be called, speak up.
- When you see a woman being dismissed, interrupted, or gaslit while she is talking, speak up.
- When you know a man is taking credit for an idea or achievement that actually belongs to a woman, speak up.
- And when you see a woman being cut out of important district decisions simply because she has a different opinion, speak up.
Silence is enabling. And in order for Tahoma to be its very best, EVERY leader must have equal voice.
That brings me to this announcement:
I was deeply humbled by the overwhelming support I received in last Tuesday’s school board election. 63% of voters in this community chose me, knowing that I had already resigned, because they believed in my ability to improve our system for students. Their vote sent this important message: Tahoma’s “good old boys club” must end. Forever.
And while I have spent many days wishing that I could step back into the seat, the disappointing reality is that I would be returning to the same toxic system that sat silent while I was told to shrink back and “stay in my lane”.
I am not willing to sacrifice my mental health. I cannot go back to that.
So tonight in this room, surrounded by an audience filled with many other valuable district partners, I pass the torch back to you with one simple wish…
That you will listen to the experiences shared in the investigative report when it is released, evaluate whether they reflect the same high expectations of behavior and respect we hold for our students, and then prevent that misconduct from happening to any other woman in Tahoma going forward. The cycle must be stopped.
Hundreds of female staff and community members are counting on you and THOUSANDS more female students are watching you, hoping you will finally include them in Tahoma’s definition of “every” too.
-Malia Hollowell“
Action: Approve Diane Cranley Consulting Agreement
The board unanimously approved the hiring of the Diane Cranley consulting firm to do a third party investigation, in the aftermath of the Bryan Neyers child sexual abuse case. The full agreement and proposal can be found in the documents on this page, but here are the top line pieces:
This article was written by a member of the Tahoma Values Team. Do you have an article, letter to the editor, or statement you would like to publish on our site? Please contact Tahoma Values at TahomaValues@gmail.com
