Education

Do you know an exceptional school counselor who supports students, nurtures strong relationships with colleagues and student families, and shows outstanding leadership? Completed nomination packets for the MCPS School Counselor of the Year Awards are due on Friday, March 24. These awards—given to a counselor at the elementary, middle and high school levels—honor the dedication and hard work of counselors. Nominations can be submitted by staff, administrators, parents, students and community partners.

To be nominated, counselors must be actively working as a counselor in MCPS and have worked for the system for at least three years. Nominees also must show outstanding leadership; understand the individual needs of students, encourage their talents and cultivate their self-esteem; foster collaborative relationships with colleagues, students, their families and the community; instill a desire to learn and achieve while advocating for equity; use data to evaluate program effectiveness and programming needs; and use technology to enhance student learning.

A total of 70 MCPS educators achieved National Board Certification in 2022. Another 90 successfully maintained their certifications.National Board Certification is achieved through an assessment process designed to measure what accomplished educators should know and be able to do. The process requires educators to demonstrate how their activities, both inside and outside the classroom, strengthen student performance and contribute to student achievement.

In order to become a National Board Certified teacher, candidates voluntarily complete a rigorous program that consists of four components: assessment of content knowledge, reflection on student work samples, video and analysis of teaching practice, and documentation of the impact of assessment and collaboration on student learning. These components were designed by teachers for teachers, to identify the essential knowledge and skills required to advance student learning and achievement. This is a commitment of time and energy; teachers who achieve certification describe the process as transformative.

The free MCPS Stronger Student mobile app is now available via the Apple and Google Play stores. The project was led by students who performed all aspects of design, building and focus grouping for the app. For secondary students, the app provides access to crisis support resources or other mental and physical health/wellness needs, including reporting incidents of discrimination. It is anonymous and confidential.

Users can access: