Maryland's Largest School District
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Board of Education will present the 2026 Distinguished Service to Education Honors. Watch last year's event and view the photos.
Now in her fifth year teaching, Kayla Jackson is in her first year teaching first grade after spending the last four in kindergarten. An exceptional early-career educator, she fills her classroom at Montgomery Knolls Elementary School with celebrations of achievements, and has taught students a system for tracking their own progress, encouraging students to achieve goals they set for themselves. Jackson, whose impact extends beyond her years in the classroom, is this year’s MCPS Rising Star Teacher of the Year.
Addison Finlay, a student-athlete at Northwood High School, has won the 2026 R.A.I.S.E. Champion of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements in athletics, academics, and leadership.
Three supporting services employees have been named finalists for the 2026 Supporting Services Employee of the Year. This year’s annual awards, given by SEIU Local 500 and MCPS, are recognizing Oscar Alvarenga, newcomers transition coordinator, Department of International Admissions; Aaron McFarland, paraeducator, Col. Zadok Magruder High School, and Bryan Nance, media services technician, Montgomery Blair High School. The winner will be announced at a celebration in May.
MCPS employs more than 10,000 supporting services staff members who work in more than 450 job classifications supporting operations and instruction. Up to three outstanding support professionals in each of the eight chapters are being recognized and awarded. The eight chapters are: Building Services, Food Services, Media and Technology, Maintenance, Office, Paraeducators, Security and Transportation.
MCPS honored 11 of its top employees during surprise celebrations today. Aboard the Celebration Express, Superintendent Thomas Taylor, Board of Education members and association leadership visited schools and worksites across the county, to pay tribute to three educators and eight supporting staff members.
For this school year, every school was asked to nominate an exceptional educator for the MCPS Teacher of the Year Award. From this field, three finalists will be selected — one each from the elementary, middle and high school levels — and one winner will move on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year honors.
Rhoshanda M. Pyles, principal at Rockville High School, is this year’s winner of the 2026 Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision.