ABOUT US
Sequoyah Elementary was built in 1990 and sits on 10 acres of land between Bowie Mill Road and Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood, Maryland. We serve approximately 410 students in grades K-5.
Hours: 9:25 am- 3:50 pm
Meet the Administration and Main Office Staff
Mrs. Megan Murphy-Principal
I am honored and humbled to be able to serve the students, staff and families of the Sequoyah community. As a school community, we strive to create a caring and positive learning environment where all are valued, respected and empowered to continually grow. My goal for each and every student is that they will have endless choices in their future. We will take the necessary steps to be sure they have the foundational skills they need to open those doors in the future. As a staff we are extremely passionate about our work of molding the future and hope to create students that are passionate about learning.
I was born and raised in Montgomery County. My three brothers and I were lucky enough to attend and graduate from Magruder High School (Go Colonels!). We each had extremely dedicated and passionate teachers that inspired us to set goals for our futures. These experiences inspired me to become a teacher in order to provide future generations with the skills they need to follow their dreams. I majored in elementary and special education at Saint Joseph’s University. I loved my time in Philadelphia, but I always knew I wanted to come back and work for MCPS. This is my fourteenth year in education and I have enjoyed every stage of my career. I have had the opportunity to serve in the role of classroom teacher, special educator, assistant principal, principal intern and principal. I believe that students are at the heart of our work and that all students can excel to high levels through commitment, opportunities, relationships, and empowerment.
On a personal note, I live in Olney with my husband, Brian, our five-year-old son, Kellen and our two-year-old daughter, Ainsley. Kellen & Ainsley are very active and keep me on my toes. When not at school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I believe that making time for family is extremely important.
I look forward to building relationships with all students, staff, and parents throughout the school year. As principal, I intend to focus on building strong relationships with all stakeholders, effectively communicating, which includes being available and accessible, maintaining a safe and positive learning environment, and making sure that students have the opportunities they need to achieve at high academic levels and that staff have the supports they need to provide students with the best possible education. Together we will ensure that Sequoyah Elementary School continues to be an amazing place to work and learn!
Mrs. Loren Williams-Assistant Principal
My name is Mrs. Williams and I am lucky enough to serve as the Assistant Principal here at Sequoyah ES. As Assistant Principal, I am passionate about building partnerships with students, staff, and families. My goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Originally from New York, I pursued my passion for education at the University of Maryland, College Park. I started my teaching career with MCPS as an elementary special educator. In this role, I discovered my calling for supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Years later, my husband and I moved to Austin, TX, where I served as a middle school special education instructional coach, gaining invaluable experience in instructional leadership and student advocacy. Eager to return to the East Coast, we moved back three years ago and I began my journey as an administrator with MCPS.
Beyond my professional life, my husband and I have made Kensington, MD our home. We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our first child this fall, a new chapter that fills us with excitement, joy, and just a touch of anxiety!
I look forward to working with each of you. Together, let's continue to foster a community where every student feels valued and important!
Mrs. Hoponick- Administrative Secretary
I have been an MCPS employee for over 25 years. I worked as an administrative secretary at Farmland Elementary School, Hoover Middle School, the Department of Special Education, Poolesville High School and the Office of School Support and Improvement. I have been married for 46 years and have three amazing daughters, Emily, Katie and Julie. I have an adorable grandson, Alexander, who is in fourth grade. I love spending time with my family, cooking, biking, shopping, and I love our summer vacations at the ocean.
Mrs. Ann Noonan- Attendance Secretary
Cluster
We are proud to be part of the Magruder cluster. When our students leave us, they go on to Redland Middle School and Magruder High School. Other schools in this cluster are Shady Grove Middle School, Cashell Elementary, Candlewood Elementary, Mill Creek Towne Elementary, Resnick Elementeary, and Flower Hill Elementary.
Who Was Sequoyah?
Have you ever wondered about the person for whom our school is named?
One interesting fact is that our Sequoyah Elementary School was the first school in Montgomery County named for a Native American. Sequoyah was famous for creating a way of writing that his people, the Cherokee were able to learn, just like we are learning to read and write!
George Gist, also known by his Native American name, Sequoyah, lived in the South Mid-West during the early 1800s. Sequoyah’s father, Nathaniel Gist, was a fur trader from Virginia, a white man, who married Wut-teh, a Cherokee chieftain’s daughter.
Sequoyah was physically handicapped. Some stories about him say that he was injured while he was hunting; some say he was born physically handicapped. He learned the trade of silver-smithing as a young man. One of the things Sequoyah wanted to do was to sign his work like the other silversmiths but he had never been to school and did not know how to read or write.
There was no written language for the Cherokee people so Sequoyah spent about 12 years creating one. The Cherokee written language has 86 symbols and is said to be so simple to learn that you could learn to read and write it in a month. (Imagine if we could learn to read and write English in a month!!!) Sequoyah began to teach other Cherokee people his new way of communicating and sent a message to the chief just to prove how well his method worked. He called the written messages white people wrote to each other “talking leaves” and the name was applied to his writing also. The Cherokee Phoenix was a weekly newspaper written in Cherokee and English and kept the Cherokee people well informed just like our newspapers do today.
Some of the Native American people were very suspicious of his way of writing down talking and tried to stop him by burning his cabin and all the “talking leaves” in it. This did not stop Sequoyah; he moved around the southwest and taught his method to the people.
Sequoyah died in 1843 while visiting a tribe of Cherokee People in Mexico City, Mexico.