Certification Director Receives Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has many employees who are certified by the state of Maryland—and all of them have benefited from the work of Sandy Sengstack and her Certification Unit. Sengstack is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Sengstack is the MCPS liaison to the Maryland State Department of Education regarding the needs of all MCPS certificated employees. She and her staff provide support to teachers, specialists and administrators to enable them to remain appropriately certificated. Her commitment to children and educators helped raise the percentage of core academic classes taught by highly qualified teachers from 74.5 percent in FY 2004 to 92.5 percent in FY 2008.

Sengstack began her career as an elementary school teacher. She became a certification specialist in 1992. She also has participated in various advisory groups that have influenced decisions and policies regarding Maryland certification and implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Says Albert Einstein High School Principal James Fernandez, who has known and worked with Sengstack for 13 years, “She is knowledgeable and resourceful in helping employees get the attention and guidance necessary to address certification requirements.”

Sengstack is one of the individuals who will be honored at the Champions for Children gala on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The gala, sponsored by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, honors Montgomery County Public Schools teachers, administrators, and supporting services employees—along with parent and business volunteers, and other community partners.