Greetings! My name is Kurshanna J. Dean and I am honored to serve as the principal of Greencastle Elementary.
I am native of Washington D.C. where I currently reside with my husband and our high school senior. We have a daughter, a recent graduate of Towson University, and an adult son. We are almost empty nesters! 😊 I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of the District of Columbia, my Master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University, and an Administrative and Supervisory certification from McDaniel College.
I have worked for Montgomery County Public Schools for 24 years, as a classroom and focus teacher, staff development teacher, instructional specialist, central office administrator, and an assistant principal.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, shopping, checking out the latest TV series or movie on Netflix, and the beach. I’m a lifelong fan of the burgundy and gold so you are guaranteed to find me rooting for the Commanders during football season.
My core values are accountability, communication, collaboration, equity, and relationship building. I am excited to return to the Greencastle community, as a former resident and now your principal. It’s going to be a dynamic school year!
I can be reached at 240-740-1420 or via email at Kurshanna_J_Dean@mcpsmd.org. Don’t forget to follow me on @PrincipalKJDean
Education
- Administrative Certification, McDaniel College
- Masters of Science, Elementary Reading and Literacy, Walden University
- Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education University of the District of Columbia
Work History
- Principal, Greencastle Elementary, MCPS (current)
- Assistant Principal, William Tyler Page Elementary, MCPS (3 years)
- Supervisor, Accelerated and Enriched Instruction, MCPS (7 years)
- Instructional Specialist, Accelerated and Enriched Instruction, MCPS (4 years)
- Staff Development Teacher, Burnt Mills Elementary, MCPS (1 year)
- Focus Teacher, Arcola and Highland View Elementary, MCPS (3 years)
- Classroom Teacher, Brown Station and Highland View, MCPS (5 years)
Mr. Johnson has been an educator for over 20 years and has been an administrator in MCPS for the past 5 years. He spent four years at Benjamin Banneker Middle School as an Assistant Principal, and is now the Assistant Principal at Greencastle Elementary. At his core, he is most passionate about building meaningful relationships with students and connecting families with the school in ways that facilitates a strong climate for teaching and learning. He was born and raised in Prince George's County Maryland, and enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and two daughters.
My name is Krystina Hernandez and I am happy to join the team at Greencastle Elementary School. My most recent postion was as the Staff Development Teacher at Briggs Chaney Middle School. As an educator and instructional leader with many years of experience in the North East Consortium, I am passionate about the relationships I have built in the local community and excited to continue creating and sustaining the conditions where students and staff thrive. I look forward to supporting teaching and learning everyday.
Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures. I am a Washington, D.C. native, but I have lived and visited many places including Spain, Peru, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. Learning and practicing phrases in other languages is also a hobby of mine. Please feel free to practice your cutlural greeting with me when you say hello or goodbye. Some of my other favorite things to do are cook, dance, and spend time with my husband and children.
Have a wonderful school year!