MCPS Rising Star Teacher Award

The 2025 Rising Star Teacher Award was given to Ashley Kapp, third grade special education teacher at Brooke Grove Elementary School.  She was recognized for demonstrating a passion for student success, creatively engaging students in learning, and contributing to a strong, positive partnership among students, staff, parents, and the community.

About the Award

The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Rising Star Teacher Award honors a full-time prekindergarten/Head Start through Grade 12 teacher who is in their first, second or third year of teaching. The Rising Star award winner is a teacher who demonstrates a passion for the success of all students, creatively engages students in learning and contributes to a strong, positive partnership among students, staff, parents and the community. The winner will be recognized at a celebration in the spring and will receive a monetary award.

Nominating the Future: 2026 Award Criteria: 

ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST 

The nominee: 

• Is a current full-time pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 teacher in MCPS.  Is currently in their first, second or third year of teaching. 
• Is not a previous recipient of this award. 

(Previous nominees who did not win may be re-nominated.) 

NOMINATION CHECKLIST 

• Nomination Packet Cover Sheet
• Professional Biography
• Resume
• Evidence Supporting the Award Criteria
• Letters of Support (no more than four)

NOMINATION DEADLINE 

Application

All nomination packets must be received by midnight, Friday, December 12, 2025. Only complete  packets will be considered. Nomination packets received after the deadline will not be considered. 

HOW TO SUBMIT  

Nomination packets must be emailed to Arelis Burke, Division of Family and Community Engagement  at Arelis_A_Burke@mcpsmd.org subject line: MCPS Rising Star Teacher Award. 

QUESTIONS

 If  you have any questions about this award, contact Arelis Burke  at Arelis_A_Burke@mcpsmd.org