Statement
Statement from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the Selection of Monifa McKnight as the Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent
For Immediate Release: Tuesday 8 February
I want to congratulate Dr. Monifa B. McKnight on being selected by the Board of Education as Montgomery County Public School’s (MCPS) new superintendent.
I have worked closely with Dr. McKnight during her time as acting superintendent - she has had to deal with the tremendous challenges that COVID-19 has created, and that is not an easy task – there was no off-the-shelf playbook to guide any of us. She is fortunate to work with teachers, principals and support staff that, like Dr. McKnight, have demonstrated a great sense of compassion for our children’s education and well-being. Now that the Board of Education has selected her as our superintendent, I look forward to working with her as we recover from this pandemic and address the myriad challenges that COVID-19 has amplified.
Addressing these challenges will require continued investment in our school system, which is why I recently recommended a record level of capital investment to provide resources for response and recovery efforts. These investments are important to ensure that the school system she leads has the resources they need.
This is a historic moment as the first woman, and second person of color, steps up to lead Maryland’s largest school district where 73 percent of the students and families are people of color. Dr. McKnight brings a wealth of experience to the position, and I look forward to supporting her work to ensure that all our children are college- and career-ready.
MCPS is one of this nation’s top public-school systems and is one of the reasons people want to live and work in our County. The success of our school system has a significant impact on economic development, public safety, health, and our overall quality of life.
These last two years have been extraordinarily difficult on our students, families, and our MCPS staff. I look forward to working with Dr. McKnight and the Board of Education as we move forward to continue the excellence of our school system.
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Release ID: 22-008