Muñoz resigns over plagiarism charges

Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Michael Muñoz, under fire for repeated incidences of plagiarism, will resign from his position.

The RPS Board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept Muñoz’s resignation, effective June 30, following a 90-minute closed session.

The decision comes in the wake of reporting that Muñoz plagiarized a slew of speeches, letters, and social media posts dating back to at least 2019.

The revelations of plagiarism were first published by Med City Beat.

School Board members did not offer comment regarding the resignation. Preceding the meeting, a petition with more than 1,000 signatures was presented to the board calling for the superintendent’s resignation.

“Not only did Mr. Muñoz decide to plagiarize repeatedly, he decided to plagiarize items which were supposed to have been written with a heartfelt hand,” wrote petition organizer David H. Jiang, a 2015 of Century High School. “Beyond academic dishonesty, his actions betrayed the members of this community who assumed he had written communications with his own effort, that he had cared enough to do so.”

The meeting — which lasted over six hours — was also critical for a number of other reasons; notably, it resulted in the district adopting revised learning models for primary and secondary students.

Update: Muñoz apologizes for causing a 'distraction’

One day after offering his resignation, Muñoz apologized publicly for “making choices that have set a poor example for our students and have caused a distraction from our mission.”

It marked the second time Muñoz has issued an apology related to plagiarism charges. The first came in November after it was revealed that he copied a Thanksgiving letter from at least five other sources.

In a written statement released Wednesday, Muñoz also addressed the decision to stay on the job through June — suggesting that a “disruption in district leadership now would hinder” the district’s ability to take up key issues, such as the budget and the hiring of a new superintendent.

“I remain committed to Rochester Public Schools and this community, and I will focus my remaining months on making the most of the opportunities in front of us,” wrote Muñoz. “My first priority is the children of Rochester Public Schools, and I believe this decision is best for their futures.”

Together the School Board put out a separate statement, saying the resignation “brings a conclusion to concerns that have been raised and also provides an opportunity for a planned and orderly transition to new leadership.” They also thanked Muñoz for his years of service to the district.

The School Board now plans to move quickly in its search for a new superintendent. Additional details on what that process will look like are expected to be discussed at its next regularly scheduled meeting. 

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.