MMS investigating fake Instagram account

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Middle School Principal Dara Gronau sent a letter home April 23 alerting parents and guardians of a false Instagram account that an unknown person had made in her name.

The account was made under the name “@daracrockergronau” and used a publicity photo of Gronau likely found through an internet search. The account appears to have been active for only two or three days before being found.

“The same photo was used by SOMSD Board of Education when I was named as the principal of MMS, so some students at first believed the account was real. For a short while, the false account was active and approximately 100 students followed the account,” Gronau wrote. “Unfortunately, while active, the person who created the account made insensitive statements to students and responded to students with insults about their political beliefs and plans to ‘report’ them. At some point during the day on Monday, April 23, the account was deleted.”

According to Gronau, the school district is investigating the matter and is seeking more information. She also encouraged parents and guardians to remind their children that creating false social media accounts is a violation of the acceptable use policy and the district’s code of conduct.

  Maplewood Middle School