Education

Thirteen MCPS students from five high schools have been awarded National Merit corporate-sponsored scholarships financed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. About 840 high school seniors have been chosen to receive corporate-sponsored National Merit scholarships financed by about 107 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations.

The students are among 25 high school seniors in Maryland to be selected in the latest group of National Merit Scholarship Program recipients. Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

Throughout the school year, MCPS has offered Cohort Inspire, an MCPS professional development opportunity for current and aspiring leaders trying to better understand the roles and responsibilities of a high-impact school principal and develop their leadership knowledge, attitudes and skills to work in a high-impact school.

Recently, 29 participants completed the program, which focused on five key areas for effective principal leadership: leading with equity, instructional focus, school climate, building collaborative professional learning communities, and strategic personnel and resource management. “I valued the cohort discussion as it was vulnerable, rich, purpose-driven and passionate,” one participant shared. Another commented that the experience provided “access to conversations that promote and support much-needed changes, as well as a reminder of what needs to be done in a high-impact school.”