Esperanza
Middle School
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the major statute prohibiting sex discrimination in education. It states:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Federal regulations for Title IX were issued in 1975 and prohibit sexual discrimination and sex discrimination in:
- Admissions and/or employment
- Access to any educational program or activity based on marital, parental, and pregnancy status or related condition
- Scholastic intercollegiate, club, or intramural athletics
Anti-Discrimination Statement
The St. Mary’s County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation parental status, pregnancy or related condition, sexual orientation, religion, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to educational programs or activities.
St. Mary’s County Public School System prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information:
The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:
Students, parents/legal guardians, and community members may report allegations of harassment to the School Title IX Coordinator at their school:
Monique Abney
School Title IX Coordinator
Esperanza Middle School
22790 Maple Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653
301-863-4016 ext. 23120
OR
RHONDA HUNT
Supervisor of School Counseling & Career Counseling Programs
Title IX Coordinator
St. Mary's County Public Schools
301-475-5511 ext. 32199
This email account is not monitored 24 hours a day. If you are trying to get help for a child who has expressed a desire to harm himself/herself, please call 911. Other resources that are helpful include: calling 211, texting 741741 or calling the local crisis center hotline number at 410-535-1121 or the national teen help line at 1-800-422-0009.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Employees may report allegations of harassment to:
Dr. Dale Farrell
Chief of Staff
Department of Human Resources
23160 Moakley Street
Suite 106
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-475-5511 ext. 32247
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office of Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: http://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
Anti-sexual, Anti-racial, and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
St. Mary’s County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any student or employee who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment.
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined in accordance with SMCPS policy. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination. For further information on notice of non –discrimination, visit the Office of Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System for the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.
Links & Resources
To obtain a copy of the District’s Title IX policies, including the grievance process that complies with 34 C.F.R. § 106.45(b) of the 2024 Title IX Regulations, please contact :
Rhonda Hunt
District Title IX Coordinator
301-475-5511 ext. 32199
rhhunt@smcps.org
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Training Materials and Additional Resources
All Training Materials and Additional Resources can be found on the SMCPS Website at www.smcps.org