MCPS: Message from Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monique Felder

Dr. Monique Felder, who was appointed interim MCPS Superintendent by the Montgomery County Board of Education today, has written a letter to the community. It can be seen below:

“Dear MCPS Families, Students, and Community,

I hope this message finds you all well. It is with immense pleasure and a sense of coming home that I write to reintroduce myself as the Interim Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools. To many of you, I am not a new face, but rather a returning one with a career spanning 32 years in education, deeply intertwined with the fabric of this incredible district.

To me, joining the Montgomery County Public Schools team feels like a homecoming. I have deep roots in this district, having served at every level, from being a classroom teacher, which I absolutely loved, to a central office administrator. My journey has been a testament to the opportunities and support this community has provided me. I have more than three decades of experience as an educator, beginning as a classroom teacher, progressing to a principal right here in MCPS, and eventually serving in the role of Chief Academic Officer in another district. Most recently, I served as the superintendent of Orange County Schools in North Carolina.

After nearly a decade away from MCPS, I am honored, humbled and thrilled to be back in the district that shaped me as an educator and leader. As a mother of three and a grandmother of five, I understand firsthand both the joys and challenges of raising children in today’s world. My commitment to the students and families of this district is unwavering.

In my role as the interim superintendent, my primary focus is to create stability for our district. I aim to provide consistency for our staff, students, and families and to ensure a smooth transition for the next superintendent. My goal is to close out the 2023-24 school year strong, with an uncompromised focus on what matters most: our students.

I will be actively present in our schools, classrooms, hallways, and the community at large. I am eager to listen to you, to learn about your immediate challenges and points of pride and to build your trust in me through transparency and engagement. I am committed to being an approachable leader who values the voices of all stakeholders.

I am serving as an interim superintendent to allow our school board time to hear from you, our community, about the values and skills you’d like to see in the next district superintendent. Your input will be invaluable in shaping the future of MCPS.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting with principals, staff, teachers, students, families, and the broader Montgomery County community. Together, we will ensure that our students have everything they need to succeed.

Thank you for your warm welcome back to MCPS. I am excited to work alongside you all to provide the best possible educational experience for our students.

In service to children,

Monique T. Felder, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent”