Watkins Mill Principal Honored by Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Vilma Najera, in her second year as principal at Watkins Mill High School, has been named Hispanic Educator of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County. She was honored at the Hispanic Leadership Awards Gala on Oct. 11. She started working for MCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Watkins Mill.

Along with MCPS colleague Michael Williams, she started the Minority Scholars Program (MSP) almost 17 years ago. She established an MSP chapter at Clarksburg High School in 2009. The program has since grown to all 25 high schools, 25 middle schools and nearly 10 MCPS elementary schools, cultivating student leadership and advocacy. Najera now serves as county coordinator for MSP.

She is also co-founder of PODER Educators, which supports Latino educators.

“It is an honor to be recognized for my work in Montgomery County and to be highlighted as a Latina educator is something that I take pride in,” Najera said.