MCPS will announce the Montgomery County Teacher of the Year at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 24 at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The year’s signature celebration honoring the district’s Champions for Children will be held in person for the first time since 2019. The 2023–2024 Teacher of the Year finalists are: Megan Anderson, fifth grade teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School; Eunju (April) Moon, sixth grade English teacher at Ridgeview Middle School; and Shannon McKenzie, child development teacher at Clarksburg High School.
The celebration will also recognize Rising Star Teacher of the Year: Amanda Hammersla, fourth grade teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School; Beth F. Thomas, assistant principal at Hallie Wells Middle School, who won the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision, and Supporting Services Employee of the Year Kimani Gray, supply services coordinator, Supply and Property Management in the Department of Materials Management.
In addition, Superintendent Monifa McKnight will recognize Montgomery Goes Purple’s Laura Mitchell as Community Champion for Children, and Cecilia (Sissy) Natoli, teacher and coach at Clarksburg High School, will be given the inaugural R.A.I.S.E. Champion of the Year award. The event will be broadcast live on the MCPS website and on the MCPS YouTube channel.