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The Washington Post Principal of the Year Award

Joshua Fine portrait

The 2025 Washington Post Principal of Year Nominee was given to  Dr. Joshua Fine, Principal of Flower Hill Elementary School. He was recognized for going beyond the day-to-day demands of his position to create an exceptional educational environment for his staff and students.

Nominating the Future: 2026 Award Criteria: 

ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST

The Nominee: 

  • be a current principal in Montgomery County Public Schools
  • be a full-time principal in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12
  • have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a principal, including one (1) or more years in MCPS
  • be serving in the position for which they are being nominated for throughout the current 2025-2026 school year.
  • not be a previous recipient of this award

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

NOMINATION CHECKLIST 

  • Nomination Packet Cover Sheet 
  • Career Summary/Resume 
  • Evidence Supporting the Award Criteria  
  • Letter of Support 
  • Professional Biography  
  • Photograph   

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:  The Washington Post Principal of the Year.

QUESTIONS

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