Rock Terrace School - Administration

My name is Casey Siddons, and I am proud to serve as Acting Principal this school year. This will be my first year as a Rock Terrace Cougar, and I am excited to build on the school’s strong tradition of supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally while preparing them for life beyond school.

A little about me: I am originally from Archbald, Pennsylvania (near Scranton), and after graduating from Kutztown University, I moved to Maryland to teach. My wife and I live in Silver Spring with our amazing six-year-old daughter, who just started kindergarten in MCPS.

This will be my 18th year as an educator in MCPS! Before joining Rock Terrace, I served as a principal intern at Rocky Hill Middle School, assistant principal at Cabin John Middle School, the Academy Coordinator at John F. Kennedy High School, and consulting teacher in the Office of Human Resources and Development. I began my MCPS journey teaching sixth-grade world studies at Sligo Middle School, then moved to Argyle Magnet Middle School, where I served as social studies content specialist and sixth-grade team leader.

In addition to my school-based roles, I have taught professional learning courses for MCPS educators, including Studying Skillful Teaching and coursework for the Paraeducator Career Ladder Program. These experiences deepened my commitment to building staff capacity and supporting all educators in their professional growth.

Across these experiences, my core values have remained constant: equity, impact, relationships, and innovation. I believe all students deserve equitable opportunities to learn and thrive; that our work must positively impact students, families, and the community; that strong relationships built on trust and kindness are at the heart of every successful school; and that innovation keeps teaching and learning engaging and meaningful.

Guided by these values, I hold three principles close in my leadership:

There is nothing more important to student learning than teachers and instructional staff — what they know, can do, and believe.

All students can learn and can do so at high levels.
All parents, guardians, and caretakers want their children to do and be their best each day.

Mission Statement

The Rock Terrace program will pursue specific, measurable and personally meaningful learning outcomes for every student, while maximizing opportunitties for diverse experiences and positive relationships.

Vision Statement

Our vision at Rock Terrace is to provide an engaging, compassionate program of student-centered academic, vocational and social emotional learning with the goal of preparing our students for independent living and full community participation.

Mission Statement The Rock Terrace program will pursue specific, measurable and personally meaningful learning outcomes for every student, while maximizing opportunitties for diverse experiences and positive relationships.

Mission Statement

The Rock Terrace program will pursue specific, measurable and personally meaningful learning outcomes for every student, while maximizing opportunitties for diverse experiences and positive relationships.