Principals at Roberto Clemente and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle Schools Receive Honors for Outstanding Leadership

Two Montgomery County Public Schools middle school principals have recently received significant awards for their outstanding administrative abilities.

Marc Cohen, principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School is the winner of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) 2009 Outstanding Young Educator Award in the administrator category. ASCD is a membership organization that develops programs and services to enhance teaching and educational leadership.

ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter recognized Cohen for promoting his school’s student achievement growth. He said, “Marc Cohen works collaboratively––and energetically––with his staff and community to ensure that each student gets the best of each adult, every day.”

Randy Gruber, assistant principal at the school, nominated Cohen for the award. He highlighted how Cohen fosters community partnerships––including PTSA, NAACP, Montgomery County Police Department, and local businesses––in support of students.

Shawn Joseph, principal of Roberto Clemente Middle School, was recognized with Maryland’s Middle School Principal of the Year award from Met Life/National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He now becomes a candidate for NAASP National Principal of the Year, which will be announced in September.

Joseph has led Clemente for four years. He began his career in education as an English teacher at the school in 1996. He previously served for three years as an assistant principal at Redland Middle School.

Joseph is credited with improving test scores at the school among all student groups and providing leadership that has inspired great improvements at the school in just a few years.