Monday, November 12, 2012
Dr. Joshua Starr outlines his vision for public education in Montgomery County at the first "State of the Schools" address.
Montgomery County Public Schools are succeeding on many levels, according to Superintendent Joshua Starr, who hosted a lush "State of the Schools" address Monday. Starr and his 500 to 600 guests spent much of the morning at The Music Center at Strathmore revelling in the system's many gifts: The highest high school graduation rate of any large school system; scores of talented students excelling in music, visual art, science and math; and millions of dollars in college scholarship funds doled to graduates. Despite a history of success, it was clear that Starr's vision for the future of public education in Montgomery County is different than the past. The system's students are also different than the past—majority non-white and …
Recover from super storm. Check. Elect president. Check. Thaw turkey. Already?
Montgomery County dodged the Superstorm Sandy bullet, then sailed through Election Day without major delays or problems. Could Thanksgiving Day run as smoothly? Not likely at this reporter's house. But miracles do happen, especially around these 500 square miles as of late. We won't rehash the election results here. They're available on your favorite Patch site under the "News/Elections" tab. Suffice it to say, Democrats generally dominated and the state made national headlines with its ballot initiatives. We hope you've recovered sufficiently to get on with a long holiday season. If you found yourself distracted last week, there was plenty going on around here other than voting: Incoming Lockheed Martin CEO Resigns in Ethics Scandal On …
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Friday, November 9, 2012
The Montgomery County Schools superintendent will be at the Music Center at Strathmore.
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr will deliver his first State of the Schools address—"Building the Future Together"—on Nov. 12, at the Music Center at Strathmore. The event is open to the public, and those who plan to attend can RSVP on the MCPS website. "The event, which begins at 7:30 a.m., is an opportunity for business, non-profit and educational leaders to hear Dr. Starr’s vision for the future of MCPS," according to a school system news release. "The event will also highlight the outstanding achievements and talents of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students." Starr will deliver his address at 8:30 a.m., with the event expected to conclude an hour later. Montgomery County Board of Education …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr live tweeted his Monday visit to Gaithersburg High School, where he shadowed a Trojan senior for the day.
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr began his week not at MCPS headquarters in Rockville, but at Gaithersburg High School. Starr visited the school and shadowed senior David Hayes throughout the day before departing to participate in a Montgomery County Council meeting. Starr's visit included stops in Child Development, Statistics, Anatomy, English, AP Psychology and a lunch-time film session with the Trojans football team as they prepare for Quince Orchard.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Gaithersburg Elementary School principal Stephanie Brant rids normal homework for reading and delivered free books to adults and children twice weekly over the summer.
Reading is for everyone, and it's a message Gaithersburg Elementary School principal Stephanie Brant worked hard to convey to her students for the 2012-13 school year and community members during summer vacation. As part of a new intiative, Brant canceled what might be perceived as regular homework for her students in lieu of 30-minute-per-night reading assignments, according to a report by Fox 5. After a review of the homework assignments her students were completing, Brant determined they did not directly relate to what they were studying in the classroom, according to the report. Multiple reports including Fox 5 said Brant sought permission from Montgomery County Public Schools in order to implement the reading-only homework assignment …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Dr. Joshua Starr tells NBC4 what he's focused on as thousands of Montgomery County students go back to school: Preparing kids for the 21st century, building the district and celebrating diversity.
When you’re already ranked as one of the best large school districts in the nation, the coming school year is about ideas for how to get even better, according to Dr. Joshua Starr, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, who visited NBC4 Wednesday afternoon. “We have done so well when it compares to any other district out there when it comes to academic skills,” he said. “Now we have to think about how we prepare kids for the 21st century.” Starr offered thoughts on a variety of subjects, from the school system’s nationality and income diversity to the lack of need for standardized tests. On keeping up with growth in MCPS: “We just keep building--we keep hiring people. We keep building new schools. We're adding on to schools …
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
MCPS Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr joined school officials from Prince George's County, Fairfax County, Washington, DC, and Alexandria City to talk schools Tuesday morning.
- BACK TO SCHOOL
- Greg Cohen
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
It was quite the crowd Tuesday morning as officials from five Washington, DC-area school districts joined WTOP to discuss teacher shortage, citizenship and homework as part of the radio station's "Ask the Superintendent" show. Among the officials was Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr, who was joined by Fairfax County School Superintendent Jack Dale, D.C. School Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Prince George's County School Board Chair Verjeana Jacobs, according to the report. Alexandria City School Superintendent Morton Sherman joined the discussion via telephone. Starr's comments on MCPS during the WTOP interview included: Also noted was that every Montgomery County school has a librarian. To read the full …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Grade the MCPS Superintendent on his first year's performance.
Earlier this week, Patch caught up with Dr. Joshua Starr for an interview asking him to reflect on and evaluate his first year as MCPS superintendent. Starr said he felt good about Year No. 1 and was optimistic about the future. "I think that I’ve been doing pretty well," Starr said. "It’s been a pretty good first year I’d have to say." The superintendent touted the county's high test scores and graduation rates, the work of the Montgomery County Board of Education and the new Curriculum 2.0 program, among other things. But Starr said he was most pleased by the staff taking a step back to truly evaluate its progress. "I think one of the greatest successes of the school year from my vantage point has been the kind of collective deep breath …
Monday, June 18, 2012
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr answered questions for Patch, evaluating his first year.
As Montgomery County Public Schools' 2011-12 school year drew to a close last week, Dr. Joshua Starr was closing the book on his first year as superintendent. Starr replaced Jerry Weast, who spent the previous 12 years in the role. Patch: You just wrapped up your first school year, and July 1, 2012, marks your first full year as MCPS superintendent. What did you hope to accomplish in year one, and do you think you were able to do so? Dr. Joshua Starr: For year one it’s really been about transition. And I took a pretty deliberate approach to transition planning, to entry and to help the community get to know me and by community I mean teachers and administrators and parents and kids and elected officials. I wanted them to get to know me …
Monday, May 21, 2012
Montgomery County Public Schools will spend $20 million of its budget on salary increases for employees, officials announced Monday.
Public school workers in Montgomery County will see their first pay raise in years, school officials announced Monday. Three different employee unions—the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU) and the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP)—negotiated a fiscal year 2013 salary increase of about 3.4 percent for their members. The raises, which will come after a three-year freeze in cost-of-living increases, will cost Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) $20 million, or about one percent of its $2.1 billion budget. “This agreement is about sustainability. If we are going to sustain our history of excellence and sustain the reputation of …
Theresa Defino
2:45 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Might get more attendance at a better time & location (such as at an easily accessible MCPS building? an evening?) and not at 7:30 in the a.m. on a day many have off work and school. more ›