Nelson McLeod, Jr., principal of Newport Mill Middle School, has been recognized as this year’s winner of The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award for Montgomery County.

The award, given for promoting an excellent educational program and creating an exceptional educational environment, is presented each fall to one principal in each Washington metropolitan area school district and to one private school principal.

“Mr. McLeod has created a true professional learning community at Newport Mill,” Community Superintendent Heath Morrison said in nominating him for the award. “As soon as visitors walk into the school, they can sense the wonderful, positive energy that establishes the conditions for teaching and learning to take place.”

High expectations for students and staff, coupled with strong leadership and community support, have propelled Newport Mill to become one of the highest performing middle schools in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). McLeod has actively encouraged students to take more rigorous courses, especially students who traditionally have been underserved.

Each student receives a 90-minute period of mathematics every day, and almost 68 percent of current eighth graders are taking Algebra 1 or higher level math. McLeod’s commitment to narrowing the gap can be seen in algebra or higher participation of students who are African American (68 percent, compared with an MCPS average of 44 percent) and Hispanic (60 percent, compared with 45 percent).

Under McLeod’s leadership, math scores on the Maryland School Assessment have soared from 49.6 proficient in 2004 to 70.5 percent proficient this past year. Reading has increased from 60.3 percent proficient to 67.2 percent proficient during the same period. The school’s focus on closing the achievement gap was supported by the performance of African American students, who were 34.1 percent proficient in math in 2004 and 67.3 percent proficient in 2006. Hispanic students also made strong gains in math, increasing from 38.2 percent to 60.3 percent proficient.

Newport Mill Middle School is located in one of the most impacted areas of Montgomery County in terms of poverty, language, and mobility. It serves a student body that is about 46 percent Hispanic, 23 percent African American, 21 percent white and 10 percent Asian American, along with some American Indian students. The school has an ESOL program and two special education programs—Learning and Academic Disabilities, and Learning for Independence. An International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is being implemented for sixth and seventh graders. A philosophy of inclusion integrates special education students to the extent they are able.

Beyond the measurable successes, McLeod has created a school where students want to learn and teachers want to teach. Counselors, teachers and staff praise him for supporting staff development opportunities and being open to creativity and innovative strategies.

Parents have numerous opportunities to get involved in their children’s education, from meetings with parent groups to translation services to family nights and coffees. McLeod initiated a partnership with the MCPS Division of Family and Community Partnerships to establish the first secondary parent resource center.

McLeod began his career with MCPS in 1987 as a special education teacher at Earle B. Wood Middle School, where he also taught sixth grade. In 1997, he became assistant principal at Takoma Park Middle School. He was named principal of Newport Mill Middle School in 2000, working to prepare for the opening of the school in fall 2002.

The Post principal award winners will be honored this month at a dinner at Washington Post headquarters.