What drives someone to become the wolf in sheep’s clothes? Beneath the mask lies a complex psychological landscape—often shaped by trauma, insecurity, or a deep need for control. While their actions are harmful, understanding their mindset can help us recognize and respond to these behaviors more effectively.

To read the full article and access more exclusive content, please visit us at Ko-fi! 

The closure of several regional offices of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) under the Trump administration exposed deep vulnerabilities in how educational civil rights are enforced. With fewer offices, slower investigations, and limited access for rural and underserved communities, it became clear that the OCR, even before the closures, struggled with longstanding inefficiencies. These gaps have left countless students without timely protection against discrimination based on race, gender, disability, and other protected statuses.

President Donald Trump's decision to close several regional offices of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) was presented by his administration as a move toward greater efficiency. Citing long-standing problems like bureaucratic delays, case backlogs, and internal inefficiencies, the administration argued that consolidating operations would create a leaner, faster, and more focused agency to address the most serious civil rights violations in education.

The phrase "a wolf in sheep’s clothes" is more than just a warning from folklore or scripture—it’s a psychological blueprint for manipulation. Psychologically, this metaphor represents individuals who hide harmful intentions behind a façade of kindness, trust, or morality. They may be charming, helpful, or even spiritual, all while harboring deceitful or abusive motives beneath the surface.

Abuses of power can take many forms—personal, institutional, or systemic—and each carries devastating consequences. At the personal level, power can be misused in families, friendships, or workplaces when individuals control, manipulate, or intimidate others for personal gain. These abuses often remain hidden behind closed doors, protected by silence, fear, or shame.