Human Resources → Awards→ Washington Post Principal of the Year Award
The Washington Post Principal of the Year Award
2024 WINNER
Dr. Zadia Gadsden, Takoma Park Elementary School
Dr. Zadia Gadsden, principal at Takoma Park Elementary School, has been named this year’s Washington Post Principal of the Year.
About the Award
Each year one Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) principal is selected to receive the Washington Post Principal of the Year Award. The award program recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment for their staff and students. The Principal of the Year Award is intended to encourage excellence in school leadership and inspire positive organizational improvements in local school systems.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible, nominees must:
- be a current principal in Montgomery County Public Schools
- be a full-time principal in grades pre-kindergarten through 12
- have a minimum of two (2) years' experience as a principal, including one (1) or more years in MCPS
- maintain their position as MCPS principal throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
- not be a previous recipient of this award. (Previous nominees who did not win may be re-nominated.)
Nominations
Nominations may be submitted by staff, students, former students, parents, administrators or the general public. Principals may not nominate themselves. Nominators should work with the nominee, the school staff and community members to create a strong application package.
Principal of the Year (POY) Nomination Criteria
Nominees must be principals who demonstrate:
• Leadership Excellence: Earns the respect of their staff and students, inspires excellence and creativity, and provides an innovative vision for the future of the school.
• Collaboration: Establishes meaningful relationships throughout the educational system and community, and fosters a collaborative school culture that emphasizes working together within the common framework of strong educational values.
• Listening: Maintains a continuous and open dialogue with students and parents as well as faculty and staff, and considers a variety of feedback and ideas when making decisions.
• Lifelong Learning: Keeps abreast of developments in the field of education.
• Support: Continues to play an active role in the classroom, the lunchroom, the hallway, at morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal. Creates an environment in which staff and students can flourish and grow.
Nomination Submission
Nomination Deadline
Nomination materials for the Washington Post Principal of the Year Award must be received by midnight, Friday, December 13, 2024. Only complete packets will be considered. Nomination packets received after the deadline will not be considered.
How to Submit
Nomination materials must be submitted via email to Sandra Karis, administrative services manager, Office of Human Resources and Development (OHRD) at Sandra_J_Karis@mcpsmd.org Subject line: Washington Post Principal of the Year.
NOMINATION PACKET: Washington Post Principal of the Year 2025
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources and Development (OHRD) at 240-740-7012.