My name is Cornell Wade. I was recently offered the position of football coach at Bladensburg High School with Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). This was an incredible opportunity to serve the community I grew up in and help guide and serve young athletes. But PGCPS blocked my hire, telling me I’m on their “Do Not Hire” list — all because of a termination record from a school I never worked at. This wrongful termination traces back to a resignation I made years ago at a different school, which was handled properly and professionally. At no point was I notified of any termination or given a chance to respond or appeal. Now, this incorrect record has unfairly damaged my reputation, stopped me from coaching, and blocked my career. 

Through dedicated recruiting efforts, we quadrupled player participation in just one week (over 60 young men and 7 managers) —our momentum was undeniable. Days before we were set to begin offseason training, PGCPS informed me that I was on their "do not hire" list. Further investigation revealed that I had supposedly been terminated from Greenbelt Middle School during the 2019-2020 school year. However, I have never worked at Greenbelt Middle School, and I resigned from PGCPS at the end of the 2018 school year. In 2017-2018, I transitioned from coaching football in PGCPS to Capitol Christian Academy, an all-Black high school in Lanham, Maryland, while still completing my teaching duties within PGCPS for the remainder of the school year. Unfortunately, this shift caused tension with my then-principal, and after the year concluded, I resigned immediately. Despite this, Prince George’s County has no record of my resignation and instead falsely recorded my termination in 2019-2020—without ever notifying me, for willful neglect of duty.

I am calling on PGCPS and the Board of Education to:

• Remove this false termination from my record

• Restore my eligibility to work within PGCPS 

• Ensure others don’t suffer from similar wrongful blocks in the future

I have tried to fix this through the proper channels, but without success. If you believe in fairness, due process, and second chances, please sign and share this petition.

Add your name below and help me clear my name to coach again.