Per Montgomery College:
Montgomery College is one of 13 colleges to be awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA)’s $45 million Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC2) Training Grant Program. This second round of SCC grant funding expands career and technical education programs and the capacity of community colleges to help marginalized and underrepresented populations earn credentials and secure high-wage, in-demand jobs. Through the SCC2 program, colleges can improve their ability to address equity gaps and meet employers’ and employees’ skills development needs through career pathways training in specific industry sectors.
The Montgomery College (MC) Tech Metro Area Pathways (TechMAP) Program, which aims to serve 1,000 students over a four-year funding period, will be fully funded by the SSC2 grant to provide career pathways training in Information Technology (IT). The MC TechMAP Program will improve the retention, completion, and employment rates of individuals historically underrepresented in IT, including people of color, women, and disconnected youth/young adults. Additionally, individuals who are un- or underemployed, including as a result of COVID-19-related layoffs, will be invited to apply to upskill and/or reskill. To this end, the MC TechMAP Program will increase personalized navigation to help students understand their career options, enroll in a program of study and connect to the wrap around supports needed to stay on track for completion. The navigators will move with students as they progress from non-credit to for-credit degrees or as they lattice together various credentials.
The system of navigation is designed to be scalable to other programs or other community colleges and to interface with the workforce system and employers to help participants find on-the-job training and careers. TechMAP is expected to increase retention and completion rates for underrepresented students, leading to higher numbers of participants who earn professional credentials and who find quality work with higher wages. MC will partner with workforce development system partners, employer partners, and social resource partners to support the educational, employment, and wraparound service needs of participants.
“The Strengthening Community Colleges award is the fourth DOLETA grant to MC in seven years. We are grateful that the U.S. Department of Labor continues to support Montgomery College in its mission to empower our students to change their lives and enrich the life of our community,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College. “The TechMAP Program will help our learners who are historically underrepresented in IT complete certificate or degree programs and navigate a pathway to a career in the IT sector. Additionally, by partnering with industry professionals, employer partners, and support organizations, we can continue to close the equity gap for students who traditionally have been underrepresented in postsecondary education and employment.”
The MC TechMAP Program is part of Montgomery College’s Information Technology Institute within the Workforce Development and Continuing Education unit in the Academic Affairs division. For more information regarding TechMAP, please contact Dean Steve Greenfield at [email protected]or Senior Program Director Eunice Melo at [email protected].
Per the State of Maryland:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland will launch a new $1.6 million grant program to provide additional support for non-public schools.
“Every child in Maryland deserves access to a world-class education regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in,” said Governor Hogan. “Through the first-ever school choice program in state history, we have provided more than 20,000 scholarships for students in need. With this grant program, we are focused on helping more schools address the learning loss caused by the pandemic.”
The governor established the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) program in 2016 to provide scholarships for low-income students from areas with under-performing schools to attend non-public schools. Through BOOST, the state has provided more than $50 million to fund scholarships for low-income students.
Last year, the governor announced two rounds of Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) funding to provide financial assistance to support safely reopening schools and helping students recover from learning loss associated with the pandemic. With the leftover funding from that program, the governor is establishing a $1.6 million grant program that will cover a range of eligible expenses, including:
- Supplies to sanitize, disinfect, and clean school facilities;
- Improving ventilation systems, including windows or portable air purification systems to ensure healthy air in the non-public school;
- Educational technology (including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology and adaptive equipment);
- Expanding capacity to administer coronavirus testing to effectively monitor and suppress coronavirus, including conducting surveillance and contact tracing activities, and supporting other activities related to coronavirus testing for students, teachers, and staff at the nonpublic school (including the use of nursing services);
- Reasonable transportation costs.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will post the grant application and conduct outreach to eligible non-public schools in early October.
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Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Friday, August 26, 2022
“Launchpads,” which are tablets designed specifically for children from preschool age through sixth grade, are now being loaned through a new program of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). The program will have four County libraries loaning the pre-loaded tablets that are only available through public libraries and do not require Wi-Fi or internet.
Launchpads are populated with carefully chosen content of various themes including educational apps, games, videos, stories and activities focusing on specific topics.
Launchpads will be available from the MCPL branches of Long Branch, Maggie Nightingale, Marilyn Praisnerand White Oak. Customers can place holds on the Launchpads to have them transferred to their closest MCPL branch for pick up.
The content available is:
- “Early Literacy” for emerging readers.
- “Language Learning” for an introduction to languages and cultures.
- “Math” from fundamentals through elementary skills.
- “Pre-K Academy” to help children prepare for kindergarten.
- “Reading Academy” to help children with verbal, reading, comprehension and writing skills.
- “STEAM Academy” to help children become problem solvers and make connections between their everyday world and science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts
In addition to the benefits of the curated activities, using the tablets will help children learn, practice and improve their digital literacy skills—a key component of a 21st Century education.
Customers can borrow up to five Launchpads at a time, complete with charging cable.
Launchpads can be checked out with a library card for a three-week lending period. They can be returned to any branch in person or in the book drop. If there is not a waitlist, Launchpads can be renewed a maximum of three times.
For a complete listing and descriptions of all the Launchpads, and to check availability or place a hold, consult MCPL’s online catalog.
Montgomery County is the eighth county in Maryland to participate in the Launchpad program.
For more information about the program, contact Rachel Rappaport at [email protected].
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has (JKCF) recently announced the semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Of the 440 semifinalists nationwide, 10 are current Montgomery College students. This year’s semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced by early May.
Per Montgomery College:
Through this award, the Foundation supports high-achieving community college students with financial need seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at selective four-year institutions.
Montgomery College’s 10 JKCF semifinalists are:
Alexzander Baetsen
Jessica Beitler
Andrea Campos
Anna Chacon
Eve Elias Stowell
Patrick Ibanez
Marthe Medalebem Sandjol
Isabela Paz
Amanda Pereira Baloneque
Fatihah Ullah
View the list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar semifinalists, their community colleges, and their hometowns on the JKCF website.
Since its inception, the Cooke Foundation has selected Transfer Scholars from over 337 community colleges and has awarded more than $54 million in transfer scholarships. While national college enrollments have been on the decline in the midst of the pandemic, recent National Student Clearinghouse data finds that transfers are on the rise among community college students who have stayed enrolled in the first year of the pandemic. For the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, this was a highly competitive year.
“The past year has been particularly difficult as students continued to navigate the complexities of hybrid learning, the demands of family care, and disrupted work schedules,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “We are so proud of these semifinalists for their perseverance and achievements at their community colleges.”
The Undergraduate Scholarship offers unmatched support to community college students seeking to complete their education at top four-year institutions. In addition to financial support, selected Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from the Foundation to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers. Undergraduate Transfer Scholars will additionally receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of nearly 3,000 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.
Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service, and leadership. Students must be currently enrolled in community college or recent alumni.
Learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship here.
Per Montgomery County:
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 18, 2022—Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker invites Montgomery County students to participate in a virtual Youth Listening Session on Mental Health and Wellness on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. to share students’ vision of what Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the County can do to prioritize mental health and well-being in schools. The virtual Youth Listening Session, co-hosted by Councilmember Hucker and Student Member of the Board of Education Hana O’Looney, will include students’ perspectives, questions and ideas, and mental health resources.
“I’m thrilled to host this listening session to hear directly from students about what we can do together to better meet their mental health and wellness needs,” said Councilmember Hucker. “Our young people have been calling for more mental health staffing, resources and support in schools well before the pandemic, and the pandemic only exacerbated this need. We must listen to student voices and concerns and respond accordingly.”
“This listening session is an incredibly important opportunity to center youth voices and focus on the youth experience in Montgomery County,” O’Looney said. “I encourage students to show up and share their perspectives on how our school system can better support mental health needs.”
Representatives from EveryMind, MCPS, Montgomery County Council of PTAs and other health officials will join the meeting to answer questions and share information about resources for young people across the community. Members of the Montgomery County Board of Education, County Council and County leaders will be in attendance.
The virtual Youth Listening Session will be conducted through a Zoom webinar and can be watched live on Councilmember Hucker’s Facebook (@CMHucker) and the Montgomery County Council Facebook (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil).
Register to attend here: bit.ly/MCPSmentalhealth.
For more information contact: Genevieve Kurtz, communications director, Office of Councilmember Hucker at [email protected] or (240)777-7937;
Julio Murillo, chief of staff, Office of Councilmember Hucker at [email protected] or (240) 777-7960.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington (ADW) sent a letter to Catholic school parents earlier today, stating that face coverings will no longer be required indoors in our Maryland school facilities for students, staff, or visitors beginning on Monday, February 21st.
The letter states that depending on the needs of each school’s leaders to prepare, schools will transition between February 21 and February 28. “We appreciate and will fully support whatever decisions that parents make for their own children regarding whether to wear a face covering in school or not.”
Yesterday, the Board of Education in nearby Anne Arundel County, voted 8-0 to remove the mask mandate in all public schools.
The full letter can be seen below:
“Dear Parents and Guardians,
The health and safety of the young people entrusted to our care, as well as that of our staff, are of the highest priority in the schools of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington (ADW). This has been no less true amid the COVID pandemic, during which the ADW has sought to carefully balance the interests of both student health and effective learning. Many area schools went virtual during the 2020-21 school year, and some jurisdictions sought to require us to remain solely virtual as well. We made every effort to keep our Catholic schools open for in-person learning, beginning in September 2020 and carrying through this school year.
The ADW has continued to monitor the guidance of public health authorities and the data as we assess the right time to transition to optional masking in our schools. We also consider local government regulations, which have limited what we can and cannot do. A growing consensus of experts and stakeholders, both locally and across the country, have determined that it is now safe to eliminate mask mandates for schools. This includes some public health experts who previously advocated for mandated masking. The remaining localities with indoor mask mandates have also begun to announce plans to lift those requirements in most indoor settings. Over the past several months, substantial numbers of people have been vaccinated, including younger children, and our schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia are in one of the most highly vaccinated areas of the country. Case numbers have also been steadily dropping locally over the past month in the wake of the delta and omicron variants.
While masking has been one of the health and safety protocols that allowed our schools to stay open, experts have begun to acknowledge that masking children has its drawbacks. We recognize that many parents and students have asked to ease measures such as mask requirements more quickly. Others say they would feel more comfortable maintaining precautions a while longer.
In consideration of all of this, ADW Catholic schools will, beginning Monday, February 21, make face coverings voluntary and optional in jurisdictions where this is possible. This will enable our parents and staff to decide what they feel is right based upon their own situations. This approach balances the desires of those parents, students, and staff who wish to continue to wear masks with those who do not, while still keeping our schools safe.
Archdiocesan Schools in Maryland
Beginning on February 21, 2022, face coverings will no longer be required indoors in our Maryland school facilities for students, staff, or visitors. We have been meeting with school leaders to organize and prepare their communities. Depending on the needs of each school’s leaders to prepare, schools will transition between February 21 and February 28. We appreciate and will fully support whatever decisions that parents make for their own children regarding whether to wear a face covering in school or not. Enforcement of this decision is between parent and child, not school personnel. However, CDC and local regulations still require that everyone using public transportation, including students who use public school buses, continue to wear face coverings.
Archdiocesan Schools in the District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s February 14 executive order continues to require masking in all schools in the District, both public and non-public. The Archdiocese is reviewing these requirements and advocating with city officials to make face coverings optional for our school families in the District. We invite parents to do the same. In the meantime, ADW Catholic schools located in the District of Columbia remain subject to the District’s masking order. As we receive additional updates regarding any change in status in the District, we will continue to share this information with our school communities.
Looking Ahead
ADW Catholic schools will continue to monitor local conditions and implement prudent safeguards and mitigation strategies as we strive to provide safe, in-person instruction. If a major spike in cases or a serious variant emerges, government authorities may reinstitute a face covering requirement. As we have done previously, we will consult with medical experts and public health officials for guidance. All Archdiocesan schools will continue to adhere to applicable public health guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and those who have been exposed.
Let us remain persistent in our prayers that the virus will continue to recede and our schools will return to pre-pandemic normalcy. I cannot thank you enough for your support to our school leaders and teachers throughout the pandemic. Our family-school partnership is a hallmark of our Catholic school community, which I am proud to lead.
May God bless you and your families.
Peace of Christ,
Kelly Branaman
Secretary for Catholic Schools
Superintendent of Schools”
Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Bill would establish an independent organization focused on access, equity and inclusion in early care and education programs while helping the sector recover from challenges caused by the pandemic
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 15, 2022—Today the Council unanimously approved Bill 42-21, which would require the Council to designate a nonprofit corporation to serve as the County’s Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity as well as establish its guidelines and duties. Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice are the lead sponsors of the bill, and all other Councilmembers are cosponsors.
High quality and affordable early child care and education (ECE) is an essential service for the well-being and future of children and their families. It is also critical to employers. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to such care has become increasingly difficult. Accessible, high quality and sustainable ECE programs allow more parents to participate in the workforce, provide a solid educational foundation for our children, help employers attract and retain talented individuals, and ensure a talented future workforce to help spur the local economy. Furthermore, a strong ECE system would support the well-being of some of the County’s most vulnerable populations by helping eliminate structural barriers rooted in systemic racism.
“Establishing an independent public private Early Care and Education Entity in the county in the midst of a COVID-19 recovery requires we look to the future and invest in real and lasting systematic change,” said Council President Albornoz, who is chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. “With voting authority and responsibility, this newly implemented law will bring employers, philanthropic organizations, government entities, childcare providers and parents together to ensure equitable accessibility of early care and education to our most precious commodity, our children. This win-win approach will create seeds of change not only within families, but for our economic and social sectors which have been rattled by this global pandemic. I would especially like to thank Montgomery Moving Forward and community stakeholders for their comprehensive and long-term vision in the formation of this important entity.”
“I am thrilled that we have reached this incredible milestone in the County’s efforts to expand access to quality early care and education for our working families,” said Councilmember Navarro, who is chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and a member of the Education and Culture Committee. “This has been a priority of mine since before the pandemic further exacerbated existing gaps in service. I worked on this issue in 2011 as a member of President Obama’s White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Ever since then, I had wanted to create the initiative, get substantial funding and eventually arrive at a public/private entity that can take advantage of philanthropy, engage the private sector and usher innovation.
“When I was Council President in 2019, I spearheaded the County’s Early Care and Education Initiative and made sure that funding remained protected even during this period of fiscal uncertainty. The facts are clear, when children have access to quality early care and education, then they are more likely to enjoy academic success which in turn translates to career success later in life. Investing in the education of our children now will lead to a future where more families are able to lift themselves up the socio-economic ladder and stimulate our local and regional economy. Quality early care and education is an economic imperative, it is also the right and equitable thing to do.”
“The pandemic has highlighted that local government alone cannot address our early care and education challenges and inequities our residents face. Instead, it must be a partnership that convenes public and private stakeholders to ensure that innovative practices will be guided by all voices,” said Councilmember Rice, who is chair of the Education and Culture Committee and a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. “I greatly appreciate the research and convenings that Montgomery Moving Forward has conducted to assist in recommending a path for our county. As the Chair of the Human Services and Education Committee for the National Association of Counties, I know that state officials are looking at our ECE coordinating entity as a model for their future efforts.
“I am proud that my colleagues came together to sponsor legislation that will support not just our current workforce, our employers, and their families but will create a system that will focus on all aspects of early care and education for our children. As our future workforce, our children are the most valuable resource to ensure our economy is strong for years to come. It is on us to ensure we provide the educational foundation they will need to thrive.”
The Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity created through this legislation will serve as a public-private convenor to help build a more unified system and convene all stakeholders, including health providers, social service agencies and other support organizations, employers, and childcare providers. Its aim is to help facilitate a sustainable economic recovery for the County and future growth by helping to identify needs and coordinate resources across the entire ECE system.
The chosen entity will be a Maryland nonprofit, non-stock corporation exempt from federal income tax and headquartered in the County. Its Board would have nine ex-officio government officials and 12 private sector members appointed by the Executive and confirmed by the Council.
The Council staff report on the bill can be viewed here.
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Yesterday, Governor Larry Hogan called on the Maryland State Board of Education to rescind its school mask policy, citing the state’s dramatically improved health metrics, the widespread availability of vaccines for school age children, and the growing consensus among medical professionals, parents, and bipartisan state officials.
The Maryland State Board of Education provided a response last night, stating that the school mask policy will not be dropped until a vaccination level of 80% is reached and transmission levels drop.
The full letter from the Maryland State Board of Education to Governor Hogan can be seen below:
“Dear Governor Hogan:
On behalf of the State Board of Education, I express our appreciation for your strong leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and your steadfast support of Maryland public schools.
Like you, the State Board of Education and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) continue to prioritize safe, full-time, in-person learning with minimal disruption.
The Maryland State Board of Education is watching with optimism as Covid-19 metrics improve in the State. In fact, the State Board issued the current not-to-exceed 180-day face covering emergency regulation with off ramps during the Omicron surge, in anticipation of an improving environment in which face coverings would no longer be needed as we learn to live with the virus. As a transition to ultimately lifting the face covering requirement, these research-based off ramps allow local superintendents and school boards to unilaterally lift the requirement as follows:
1. A local board of education may lift the face covering requirement in a public meeting if at least 80 percent of the county population in the county where the schools are located is fully vaccinated, as reported by the Maryland Department of Health.
2. The local superintendent may lift the face covering requirement for a school facility or facilities after a principal or designated school official verifies that 80 percent of the school staff and students in the school facility have been fully
vaccinated.
3. The local superintendent may lift the face covering requirement in schools if the county has sustained 14 consecutive days of moderate or low transmission rate of COVID-19 cases, as reported by the CDC.
At each monthly meeting, the State Board reviews current COVID-19 metrics in the State to assess the need for the
continuation of the regulation. Our commitment has not changed, and we look forward to reviewing the latest data and health guidance at the State Board meeting on February 22, 2022. As you know, the State Board has and continues to rely upon science, research, and guidance from public health experts, including the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health in its efforts to ensure schools remain safely open.
Again, we deeply appreciate your strong leadership and support throughout this once in a century pandemic. We, too, share your desire not to let this pandemic distract us from aggressively addressing the learning loss and social emotional harm this pandemic has done to our children. We look forward to working with you and stakeholders across the state to provide an excellent and equitable education for every Maryland child.”
Here are seven things you need to know for Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. They include the appointment of a permanent superintendent, information about the school well-being, safety and security review, an antiracist audit update, information about COVID-19 rapid take-home test kits and more.
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- Board of Education Appoints Next Superintendent, in a Historic Announcement
Dr. Monifa B. McKnight was named permanent superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools on Tuesday, Feb. 8. She is the first woman and second African-American to lead the school district. Dr. McKnight will move from her interim position into the permanent role as MCPS superintendent as of July 1, 2022. She has 23 years experience as a public school educator and administrator, the vast majority of which have been in MCPS.
- Board of Education Appoints Next Superintendent, in a Historic Announcement
Read Dr. McKnight’s message to the community.
- No MCPS Schools Entering 10-Day Virtual Learning Period
No additional schools will transition to virtual learning next week. MCPS will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and school operations on in-person learning and, if necessary, identify schools for temporary virtual learning. - MCPS Conducting Thorough Review of Well-Being, Safety and Security in All Schools
In recent weeks, district staff have engaged numerous key stakeholders to inform this work and have also presented to the Board of Education and Montgomery County Council in public meetings. The four key areas of focus include:- Mental Health and Social-Emotional Well-Being
- Creating Safe and Equitable School Environments
- Safety, Security, and Community Engagement Officer Program Enhancements
- Joint Incident Command Framework
The workgroup will bring proposals for discussion and consideration to the Board of Education meeting on Feb. 24.
Stakeholders guiding this work include:
- High school principals and current Community Engagement Officers
- Middle school principal cabinet & elementary leadership from administrator employee association
- 230 students from all middle and high schools
- Already established advisory groups: Reimagining School Safety and Students Well-Being (RSSSW) Steering Committee and the Student Well-being Action Group (SWAG), which include community representatives
- Employee association representatives (MCAAP, MCEA, SEIU), including association leadership
- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services staff and Montgomery County Police Department representatives
- Antiracist Audit Survey: More Information
On Feb. 2, Dr. McKnight shared this update on the ongoing work and commitment to address racial and systemic barriers in the school district. An update was sent to families to provide more information about what to expect for the upcoming surveys.- All students in Grade 4 through Grade 12 will take an age-appropriate, anonymous survey in school between March 1 and March 31. Each school will decide on the date to administer the survey.
- Any parent or guardian who does not want their child to take the survey should complete this form.
- Here are some resources to help to better understand this survey:
- The video that all students will see right before they take the survey
- Brief overview of the Antiracist System Audit (also in español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ)>
- Explanation of what the survey will look like
- Frequently Asked Questions (also in español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ)
- All students in Grade 4 through Grade 12 will take an age-appropriate, anonymous survey in school between March 1 and March 31. Each school will decide on the date to administer the survey.
- COVID-19 At-Home Rapid Tests Being Distributed
MCPS will distribute 190,000 rapid test kits to all students and staff. These rapid test kits will be distributed through March, starting with 50,000 test kits that will be sent home during February. Staff and parents of students are reminded to report positive results through the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Tool. - Board of Education Receives MCPS Operations Update
At its Feb. 8 meeting, board members heard from MCPS staff who shared updates around COVID-19 impacts. Positive COVID-19 cases across the district have dropped significantly. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is now providing case investigators to provide COVID-19 follow-up for MCPS students and staff. MCPS has hired more substitutes and is seeing fewer unfilled substitute positions. MCPS has served all bus routes since January 21, 2022. - Spectator Limitations Adjusted at MCPS Extracurricular Events
Spectator limitations were adjusted from 25 percent of facility capacity to 50 percent of facility capacity for all indoor extracurricular events. They remain at that level. Masks are still required inside all MCPS schools and facilities. Review COVID-19 athletics information at this website. You may also refer to the Return to R.A.I.S.E. Athletics newsletter.
Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday 8 February
I want to congratulate Dr. Monifa B. McKnight on being selected by the Board of Education as Montgomery County Public School’s (MCPS) new superintendent.
I have worked closely with Dr. McKnight during her time as acting superintendent – she has had to deal with the tremendous challenges that COVID-19 has created, and that is not an easy task – there was no off-the-shelf playbook to guide any of us. She is fortunate to work with teachers, principals and support staff that, like Dr. McKnight, have demonstrated a great sense of compassion for our children’s education and well-being. Now that the Board of Education has selected her as our superintendent, I look forward to working with her as we recover from this pandemic and address the myriad challenges that COVID-19 has amplified.
Addressing these challenges will require continued investment in our school system, which is why I recently recommended a record level of capital investment to provide resources for response and recovery efforts. These investments are important to ensure that the school system she leads has the resources they need.
This is a historic moment as the first woman, and second person of color, steps up to lead Maryland’s largest school district where 73 percent of the students and families are people of color. Dr. McKnight brings a wealth of experience to the position, and I look forward to supporting her work to ensure that all our children are college- and career-ready.
MCPS is one of this nation’s top public-school systems and is one of the reasons people want to live and work in our County. The success of our school system has a significant impact on economic development, public safety, health, and our overall quality of life.
These last two years have been extraordinarily difficult on our students, families, and our MCPS staff. I look forward to working with Dr. McKnight and the Board of Education as we move forward to continue the excellence of our school system.