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Board of Education Approves Appointment of Dr. Monifa McKnight to Serve as Deputy Superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools

July 11, 2019

During its July 11, 2019, business meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the recommended appointment of Dr. Monifa B. McKnight as the Deputy Superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the largest school system in Maryland with more than 163,000 students. In this role, Dr. McKnight will work to ensure that all systemwide strategies and initiatives are focused on equity and excellence, and are implemented with fidelity.

“Throughout her career, Dr. McKnight has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to equity, excellence and student well-being,” said Dr. Jack R. Smith, MCPS Superintendent of Schools. “Her depth and breadth of experience will help us ensure that MCPS maintains the high levels of achievement that we have for many of our students, and raise to excellence students who have yet to meet their potential because of gaps in access, opportunity and resources.”

Dr. McKnight said: “I am honored and humbled to return to MCPS to ensure all students, regardless of their background, have what they need to succeed. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Smith, the Board of Education, MCPS staff, students and the entire Montgomery County community to provide improve outcomes for all students.”

Dr. McKnight joins MCPS from Howard County Public School System, where she served as the Chief School Management and Instructional Leadership Officer. Prior to her tenure with Howard County, Dr. McKnight served as the Director for Secondary Leadership Development Programs for MCPS. Immediately preceding her director role, Dr. McKnight served as the principal of Ridgeview Middle School in MCPS. In this role, she received the Maryland Middle School Principal of the Year award, given by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

“Under the leadership of Dr. Smith, MCPS has taken important steps to ensure equity and excellence are at the foundation of all that we do on behalf of our students,” said Shebra L. Evans, president of the Board of Education. “The Board believes the addition of Dr. McKnight to the leadership team will help our system continue to build on this foundation so that student success cannot be predicted by race or socio-economic status.”

In 2016, Dr. McKnight was selected as a Principal Ambassador Fellow by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition to her experience and leadership in K-12 public education, she has served as an adjunct instructor at Hood College and McDaniel College, teaching graduate-level courses in diverse educational philosophy, human development, and race and equity in school leadership.

Dr. McKnight will begin her new role in August 2019.

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