A Message from Superintendent Joshua P. Starr

Thank You for a Great School Year

Dear Colleagues,

As we end another school year in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the outstanding work you have done the past 10 months. There are so many ways you serve the needs of our students every day—from great classroom instruction and top-notch leadership, to providing the services and support our students and staff need to be successful.

In fact, that dedication was on full display yesterday as violent weather tore through portions of Montgomery County during dismissal time. School principals made fast decisions about holding buses and quickly communicated with their parents. Teachers and support staff kept the students safe and executed emergency procedures flawlessly. Bus drivers who were on their routes followed their training and took appropriate steps to make sure students were protected from the storm. And once the storm had passed, our maintenance team went to work to clean up any damage and get the schools ready to welcome students. As a result, we were able to open on time this morning and celebrate the end of a great school year.

Your excellence is recognized by many. When the Board of Education unanimously passed the Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget yesterday, they acknowledged your commitment by passing a budget that includes a compensation increase for nearly every MCPS employee. They, and I, know that MCPS would not be the outstanding district it is without you and your colleagues—the best staff in public education, bar none.
I know that many of our employees will continue to work throughout the summer, whether it’s professional development, summer school instruction, facilities improvements or other important functions. One thing I am excited about is the completion of our new Strategic Planning Framework, which will help set the direction for MCPS in the coming years around the skills and knowledge our students need to be successful in the 21st century. Please keep an eye out for more information on this later in the month.

As we begin summer break, we are already looking for ways to help our student be ready for the next school year. One way you and your colleagues can help is through the MCPS GIVE BACKpacks campaign. We are hoping to raise enough money to provide every MCPS student in need with a backpack filled with school supplies. If every MCPS employee was able to donate $10—the cost of one filled backpack—we would make significant progress on our goal. Please visit the MCPS GIVES BACKpacks website for more information and to donate.

On behalf of the students, parents, and community members of MCPS, thank you for your excellent work this school year and congratulations on a job well done. It is an honor to be your superintendent. Have a great summer!

 

Dana Tofig
Director, Public Information and Web Services
Montgomery County Public Schools
(301) 279-3853
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
Twitter: @MCPS