A Message from Superintendent Joshua P. Starr

A Word of Thanks

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the Board of Education and I have reached a mutual agreement regarding my future in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Under this agreement, I am not seeking a new four-year contract and will resign as superintendent on February 16, 2015.

Being the superintendent of MCPS has been an honor and a privilege. It truly is one of the best jobs in public education and I have thoroughly enjoyed serving you, our students, and our families over the past three-and-a-half years. I thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to serve this wonderful community and I am confident that I will be leaving the district with a strong foundation for continued success. While I would have liked to continue serving MCPS, I recognize and respect that the Board has the right to choose the leader and direction of the school system.  MCPS remains an outstanding and strong school system and it will continue to be in the future.

As I reflect on my time here, I’m extremely proud of the work we have done together in service of students. We have continued to focus on providing our students with access to strong academics. More students than ever are taking rigorous classes, like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, and are demonstrating success in those classes. We have implemented new curriculum and programs that are developing the creative problem solving skills our students need for success in the 21st century. And we have made a districtwide commitment to foster the social emotional well-being of our students and develop relationships that make them feel valued and support their academic success.

Most importantly, every one of our schools and offices has aligned their work to our Strategic Planning Framework and is focused on continuous improvement in the areas where it is needed most. We are now using data and information in a more comprehensive way to customize support to our schools.

This work is getting results. For example, graduation rate data released last week shows an increase in the percentage of students who are graduating on time and a narrowing of the gap in performance among racial subgroups. But there is much work left to be done, and I am confident that that this work will continue because of you.  As I have visited all 202 of our schools during my tenure, I have continually been amazed by the work our staff is doing to engage, support, and educate our students. MCPS has the best staff in public education, bar none.

As for my future, I look forward to continuing my work in public education and ensuring all children have the opportunity to receive a world-class education that prepares them to thrive in their future. Thank you for all of the support and encouragement you have offered to me during my tenure.

With deepest admiration and respect,
Josh

Record of Accomplishments