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 Superintendent Jerry D. Weast presented the award at a countywide meeting of Montgomery County Public Schools administrative and supervisory personnel on October 6, 2004.
View presentation video:
Broadband | Modem (22 min.)
Dr. Weast noted that the selection committee was fully impressed when they visited Carole’s schools and among the specific items they noted were:
 Carole has created an educational environment that encourages staff to “exceed the expected.” She does this by encouraging staff: to purse National Teacher Certification (nine teachers achieved this in 2003), to recognize their peers, to seek grants, write articles for journals, and present at national and regional seminars. In just five years, three of her former administrators are now principals or directors.
Students are also encouraged to “exceed the expected,” and this is evident by the fact that growing numbers of Blake students are enrolling in Honors and AP classes, and have performed well on the High School Assessments. In the year 2000, 58 students took 74 AP tests, two years later 323 students took 571 AP tests in 16 different subjects. Blake's HSA results rank in the top ten for each of the five test areas.
Blake exceeded the county average standard on nearly every survey question among parents, staff, and students on the 2003 MCPS climate survey.
Carole opened Blake HS and created a strong sense of community where there was none before with her abilities to build consensus among diverse students and parents. From naming the school and picking the school colors to shaping the signature program Carole has been able to build bridges that allow students, staff, parents, and members of the business community to feel that they are all a part of Blake's learning community.
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