The Montgomery County Board of Education honored 17 recipients during a celebration of the 26th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education on May 9. The awards were established by the Board to recognize and show appreciation for exemplary contributions to public education and to MCPS. Check out a photo gallery from the event.
This year’s Distinguished Service Award winners are:
Individual Pioneer
- John J. McCarthy, Esq., State’s Attorney for Montgomery County
Community Individuals
- Jewru Bandeh, director, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center
- Ricardo Loaiza, executive director, After School Dance Fund, Inc., Silver Spring
Community Groups
- Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County Maryland
- CTE Healthcare Professions PAC and Sarah Walker, president
- Jewish Community Relations Council, North Bethesda
- Luis Cardona, administrator, Positive Youth Development, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and Street Outreach Network (SONS)
- Huayuan Chinese Academy, Germantown
Business
- CAVA, Ted Xenohristos
MCPS Staff
- Aranda Brown, ESOL teacher, Gaithersburg High School
- Marianne Hamerski, administrative services manager, Office of the Deputy Superintendent
- Steven Lightman, physical education teacher, Bayard Rustin Elementary School
- Sara Lucas-Dreiss, teacher, Longview School
- Farzaneh Nabavian, parent community coordinator
- Cheryl Sellitti, teacher, Cold Spring Elementary School
- Sofia Vega-Ormeno, assistant principal, Col. Zadok Magruder High School
School Service Volunteer
- Hannah Lucas-Dreiss, 12th grade student, Poolesville High School
Recent Stories
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with rollover on Sunday, May 19, in Bethesda. According to MCFRS Battalion Chief Jason Blake, the incident occurred…
Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting on Sunday, May 19, in Clarksburg.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with entrapment on Sunday, May 19 in Fairland.
Olney’s Fair Hill Shops shopping center began its summer concert series on May 9th and will continue through September 26th. The concerts take place on the second and fourth Thursday…
FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival
Get ready to experience the vibrant colors, tantalizing flavors, and infectious rhythms of the Caribbean at the FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival! Hosted by RHU LLC, this exciting festival is set to take place on May 18, 2024, at the picturesque 16700 Barnesville Rd in Boyds, MD.
Step into a world where the Caribbean spirit comes alive! From 12:00 PM onwards, immerse yourself in a sensory journey that celebrates the unique culture, cuisine, and music of the Caribbean. Whether you’re an African American, a Reggae or Soca music enthusiast, a wine lover, or part of the vibrant Caribbean diaspora, this festival promises to delight and captivate you in every way.
