MCPS Archives - Page 177 of 277

MCPS Teacher of the Year to be Announced on April 24

Published April 13, 2023 at 12:09PM

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.

Hallie Wells Assistant Principal, Beth F. Thomas, Wins Edward Shirley Award

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 7:17PM

Per MCPS: Beth F. Thomas, assistant principal at Hallie Wells Middle School, is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision. This prestigious award, given by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP), is presented annually to an administrator or supervisor who exemplifies outstanding leadership and accomplishments in purposeful leadership, instructional or systemwide leadership, human resources development, resource management, interpersonal skills, professional involvement, and community and stakeholder involvement.

In addition to her eight years of service in New York, Thomas has spent most of her educational career in MCPS. Over the last 28 years she has served as a special education teacher, special education resource teacher, alternative I teacher and administrator. In 2006, Thomas became an administrator at James Hubert Blake High School. When Hallie Wells Middle School opened in 2016, she was selected as the assistant principal and has served there since.

Whitman Alumna Abby Meyers Drafted in the First Round of WNBA Draft

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 3:07PM

Abby Meyers is Whitman High School’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,700 points and was the Ivy League Player of the Year last year before transferring to the University of Maryland for her senior season. Meyers, who was a captain in her only year with the Terps, was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.

In an interview with the Diamondback earlier this year, she credited her junior and senior years at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda as helping her evolve as a teammate and leader, playing a big role in being named a captain ahead of her first season at Maryland. ESPN’s post-draft analysis states, “After three seasons at Princeton, Meyers was impressive against upgraded competition in the Big Ten. She averaged 14.3 PPG and routinely made tough shots. Meyers also had career highs in assists and steals, and almost immediately took over as a leader for a Terrapins team that made the Elite Eight. The Wings roster is now ballooning with four players acquired in the first round, but Meyers could slide in as a backup at either guard spot. — Charlie Creme.”

Maryland Center for School Safety Art Showcase and Competition

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 7:15AM

The 2023 School Safety Conference hosted by the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) will include a “School Safety Art Showcase” for Maryland students in grades 3 – 12. Conference attendees will select a winning elementary, middle and high school level submission at the conference.

Students enrolled in a Maryland public, nonpublic, and private school, as well as home-school students, are encouraged to submit their artwork answering the question “What does your school safety community look like?”, no later than May 31, 2023 using the link bit.ly/SchoolSafetyShowcase. Additional questions can be directed by email to [email protected] ,or by phone at 443-388-7010. Courtesy of MCPS.

SMOB Election Day is on Wednesday, April 19

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 7:11AM

Per MCPS: On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, middle and high school students from across MCPS will vote on the next Student Member of the Board of Education. The two finalists are Mr. Sami Saeed (Junior, Richard Montgomery High School) and Mr. Yoseph Zerihun (Junior, Springbrook High School). Learn more about each candidate by viewing the official Voter’s Guide:

View the Meet the SMOB Candidates Video to learn more about the candidates and their stances on a few key issues for students. Students can check their emails from [email protected] on April 19, 2023. The ballot will be open on that day between 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM. The video below allows you to “meet the candidates”:

Magruder Alumnus Gbenga Akinnagbe Now On Hit STARZ Series Power Book II: Ghost

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 7:04AM

Actor Gbenga Akinnagbe has starred in many high-profile roles, bursting onto the scene as Chris Partlow for 30 episodes in HBO’s The Wire (2002-2008). The MoCo native and Magruder High School alumnus recently made his debut on the STARZ hit show Power Book II: Ghost, playing the role of billionaire Ron Samuel Jenkins (RSJ).

Akinnagbe grew up in Montgomery County and has stated that he was in and out of the Mark Twain School in Rockville, an alternative school that operated under than name until 2009 for students with consistent behavioral or attendance issues. When he got to Magruder on a permanent basis, Akinnagbe joined the wrestling team. “Fast forward a couple of years to when I was in Magruder full-time, and I started wrestling then. I was fortunate. I was really good at it, and I was recruited Division I the next year, my senior year to Bucknell to wrestle.” he said in a Washington Post interview in 2008.

MCPS Educational Foundation Announces 194 Inaugural Recipients of the Rales-O’Neill $10,000 Scholarship

By MCS Staff

Published April 12, 2023 at 6:49AM

The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Educational Foundation has announced 194 recipients of the 2023 Ruth and Norman Rales-Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence. These prestigious scholarships are being provided to high-achieving MCPS graduating seniors across all 25 high schools in Montgomery County. The recipients will each receive $10,000 to help ease the financial burden of attending college.

Last September, the Rales Foundation announced a $10 million, five-year commitment to the MCPS Educational Foundation, the largest donation ever to the Foundation, to provide up to 200 $10,000 scholarships per year to high-achieving MCPS graduating seniors from low-to-moderate income households, beginning in 2023. The donation was made to honor the lives and contributions of Ruth and Norman Rales and Patricia Baier O’Neill, who died in September 2021 after having served the longest tenure in the history of the Montgomery County Board of Education.

MCPS Community Message: Welcome Back from Spring Break / A Message and Important Reminders

By MCS Staff

Published April 10, 2023 at 1:07PM

“Dear Students, Staff, and Families,

I hope this letter finds you well and having enjoyed a wonderful and restful spring break. As we return to school, I would like to extend a warm welcome back to each and every one of you. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, I encourage our students to work hard and remain focused on their academic goals, and I want to thank all staff for helping them to get there. Let us continue to build on the momentum we have gained so far and bring the year to a close with a great sense of accomplishment.

Nominations for English Language Development (ELD) Awards Open Tuesday, April 11

By MCS Staff

Published April 10, 2023 at 7:42AM

Nominations for the 2022–2023 English Language Development (ELD) Awards open on Tuesday, April 11. This year, the ELD Awards will recognize Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLs) who have shown achievement, leadership and perseverance in multilingual learning, participation and leadership criteria. Nominations open Tuesday, April 11 and are due Friday, April 28.

More information, including nomination forms and award criteria, are below:

Alpha Delta Kappa Offering $1,500 Scholarship to MCPS Staff

By MCS Staff

Published April 10, 2023 at 7:34AM

The Maryland Beta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators, is offering a $1,500 scholarship for educators in MCPS or employees who wish to become educators. The scholarship is available to an MCPS employee studying to become a teacher, counselor or other educational specialist. It may also be used for professional development at a college or university to enhance the education of an MCPS teacher, counselor or other educational specialist. The scholarship must be used within one year from the date of notification of selection to receive the scholarship.

Those interested should email Janet Burton for an application. The deadline is Monday, May 1. Courtesy of MCPS.

MoCo Native and National Champion Jordan Hawkins Officially Declares for the NBA Draft

By MCS Staff

Published April 7, 2023 at 4:04PM

Jordan Hawkins, who is coming off of leading the UConn Huskies to a National Championship, has officially declared for the NBA Draft. Hawkins is a Montgomery County native who attended Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown and Gaithersburg High School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to DeMatha. Below is his announcement:

“First and Foremost I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank my family for their continued support and guidance throughout this entire process. To Coach Hurley and the entire UConn staff thank you for believing in my dream and pushing me at times I felt like giving up.