One of MCPS main core values are relationships, and their website directly mentions, "Meaningful collaboration is vital to our success; strong partnerships are built on trust and open and honest communication; building relationships with our diverse community requires us to understand the perspectives and experiences of others." 
 
On September 16, 2022, a fight broke out at a football game.  The fight wasn't started by Coach Hawkins, and the fight didn't end with Coach Hawkins.  Coach Hawkins was assaulted, placed on leave, and now terminated. How can anyone's job be at stake when they are deescalating while trying to defend themselves from physical violence? MCPS made a HUGE mistake that would impact an entire community without hearing from the community first. Coach Hawkins is a mentor, a father figure to most without one, a teacher, a confidant, a pillar in our community, and was a breath of fresh air for most parents, and all students that he encountered.
 
Most of the children that Coach Hawkins mentors come from broken homes. Most of the children that he's coached didn't get good grades, some of the students didn't see their life progressing passed high school, and some of the students had behavioral issues.  Not only is he their coach, but it he also a stand in for the fathers that they don't have. How do you take away the one person that gave those boys solace? He is what those boys need. His position needs to be reinstated by MCPS immediately.
 
#WeStandWithCoachHawkins