April 24, 2024 Community Update: Message from Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers Regarding Pikesville High School Investigation
Dear Team BCPS—
I am writing to provide an important update on the Pikesville High School investigation. This morning, Baltimore County Police officers arrested Dazhon Darien, the Pikesville High School athletic director, on multiple charges stemming from an investigation the Baltimore County Police Department launched in reference to the January 17, 2024, release of an audio recording allegedly of Principal Eric Eiswert. This afternoon, I joined the county executive, chief of police, and the state’s attorney for a joint press conference so that the police could provide an update on the investigation and I could address next steps for the Pikesville High School community and Team BCPS.
When we were made aware of the recording, we immediately launched an investigation and solicited the help of the county executive, Baltimore County police, and additional external experts. Baltimore County Police enlisted the services of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. We collaborated with these partners because they have the resources and skill to determine the authenticity of the recording, and they have verified that Mr. Darien used artificial intelligence to create the audio recording.
In light of today’s announcement by the police department—and as required by state education law–we are taking appropriate action regarding Mr. Darien’s conduct, up to and including a recommendation for termination. We have also been made aware that other BCPS employees are named in the charging documents. The BCPS Office of Human Resources will follow all system procedures for investigating their involvement and we will take swift action in alignment with their rights under the established collective bargaining agreement, Board policy and state law.
We want to thank County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Chief of Police Robert McCullough, State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, and our law enforcement partners for their work over the last several months. While law enforcement investigated, our focus as a system remained on providing direct support to Pikesville High School students and staff and creating safe spaces for them to process this incident, while maintaining our unwavering commitment to teaching and learning.
This has been a difficult time for the Pikesville High School community, Principal Eiswert and his family, and Team BCPS. We are proud of the students and staff and how they have stepped up to support one another. As I stated previously, the statements that were made in the recording do not reflect the core values of our system. We are proud of the diversity of Baltimore County Public Schools and strive to ensure that each member of Team BCPS feels valued and has a sense of belonging.
We can now shift our focus to moving forward and providing all parties with a fresh start. While we are unable to provide specific personnel-related details, it is important to note that we are exploring administrative changes given the immense impact of this incident on the Pikesville High School community and the ongoing local, national, and international coverage. To ensure continuity for our students, Mrs. Kyria Joseph, executive director of high schools, and Dr. George Roberts, consulting administrator, will continue to serve the Pikesville High School community as lead administrators for the remainder of the school year. We will work with Principal Eiswert and the Pikesville community concerning next school year.
BCPS student support services team members will be available Friday, April 25, 2024, and on Monday, April 28, 2024, to engage Pikesville High School students in conversations as they process this information. We also encourage parents and families to engage in an open dialogue with their children. Resources to support parents and families include:
Resources that are available to BCPS staff and the community:
We also want to encourage Pikesville High School students to speak with school support staff (i.e., counselors, social worker, psychologist) and trusted adults. Parents and caretakers are welcome to reach out to staff if they need support for their student.
Thank you for your patience and support as we worked through the investigative process with law enforcement. We hope that today’s update can provide some sense of closure to the community, and we look forward to our continued partnership to ensure the Pikesville High School community and Team BCPS end this school year strong.
Regards,
Myriam Rogers
Superintendent