Principal Resigns Over Faked Resume

A Manassas City Public Schools principal has resigned over false information on his resume and allegations that he altered some documents.

Robin Toogood had been serving as principal at Jennie Dean Elementary School.

Earlier this summer, state Education Superintendent Steven Staples contacted the district regarding allegations that Toogood may have altered his academic credentials.

“An investigation was immediately commenced by MCPS staff, confirming that several of his credentials were indeed fictitious,” according to spokesperson Al Radford in a MCPS release. “On Friday, June 27, 2014, Toogood was presented with the results of the investigation. He resigned from his position as principal and surrendered his Virginia license.”

Fox5 reporter Tom Fitzgerald, who first reported on the resignation Monday, notes Toogood’s resume included fabricated degrees from Trinity Washington University and University of Maryland-Baltimore.

“And his doctorate in education from Regent University in Virginia Beach? It turned out they had never heard of him,” Fitzgerald reported.

See more of the Fox5 report.

The MCPS has installed an acting principal, Dr. Zella Jones, to prepare the school for the fall.

MCPS administrators have also contracted with a clearinghouse to verify transcripts of new employees — they had previously depended solely on state licensing validation. Radford notes that the district also is in the process of reviewing the credentials of existing staff.

Photo: Manassas City Public Schools