Krystal Phauls | Testing Coordinator, Calverton ES

“Ms. Phauls is truly a ray of sunshine in our building. Even while managing the demanding responsibilities of coordinating testing for our students, she consistently makes time to check in with both staff and students. In addition to serving as our Testing Coordinator, she is also participating in the Assistant Principal program, yet she handles all of her responsibilities with remarkable grace and professionalism. She makes our school community brighter simply by being herself.”

Rashida Edwards | Principal, Rosaryville ES

“Rashida Edwards truly deserves her flowers because she leads not just with her heart, but with a clear goal in mind: always doing what is best for our students and our staff. We have a larger population of students with autism, and managing so many moving parts is not easy. After we lost our program coordinator at the start of the year, Ms. Edwards took on two roles not only as principal, but also as autism program coordinator. She does it all with grace, resilience, and a calm presence that reassures everyone around her.”

Dianne Yohe | ELD Enrollment & Testing Specialist

“Dianne’s 41 years of dedicated service to PGCPS have been marked by an unwavering commitment to students, teachers, and families. She has mentored colleagues with patience, understanding, and clear guidance, while developing an efficient and robust ELD enrollment and testing team that now serves a population that has grown from just a few thousand to more than 35,000 multilingual learners over the course of her tenure. Her outstanding leadership, kindness, and steadfast dedication have advanced our department and empowered staff at every level, and her remarkable impact over four decades is truly deserving of recognition.”

Tisa Morgan | Principal, Benjamin Stoddert MS

“Principal Morgan’s leadership at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School is defined by her unwavering commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity for every student. Serving a community that faces significant socioeconomic challenges, Principal Morgan works relentlessly to create a safe, structured, and inspiring school culture. She understands that education is often the gateway to opportunity for many of our students, and she approaches this responsibility with both compassion and determination.”

Betsy White | Employee Experience Officer

“Betsy White imagined an in-person New Employee Induction (NEI) experience for new and returning PGCPS staff that would foster a true sense of belonging while providing meaningful support as they begin their journey in our district. NEI session participants have consistently shared how impressed they are with the quality of the experience and how proud they feel to now call PGCPS their “home.” Through this work, Betsy is helping advance one of PGCPS’s key Big Rocks, Organizational Culture, by ensuring that new and returning staff feel welcomed, valued, and proud to call PGCPS home.”

Jennifer Palo | Resource Teacher, Andrew Jackson Academy

“Jennifer consistently assists our school's 4th and 5th grade SPED students.She attends to their needs even when she's not specifically servicing them. She supports teachers by giving assistance with teaching and lesson planning. She stands in the gap when teachers are running late by having students start their iReady lessons. She provides guidance and assistance to teachers struggling with preparing the BOY, MOY, and EOY goals. She works as a teamplayer and is supportive to our entire staff. Finally, Jennifer is kind, giving, and caring and knows how to make other staff members feel appreciated.”

Laura Martinez | Parent Engagement Assistant, Frances Fuchs ECC

“Throughout the year Laura runs programs to engage the parents, including nutrition classes and coffee and conversations programs. She also runs different activities in the school like the book fair, and helps to decorate for different themes throughout the year so the school always looks great! She helps support the staff with surprises like snacks or running activities like the Soup-er Bowl. Laura always has a smile, is willing to help, and very kind and patient with parents and students.”

Folasade Omolola | Classroom Teacher, High Point HS

“Folasade is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. She is highly respected for her strong relationships with students and her consistent collaboration with colleagues. Folasade actively contributes to the school community through mentorship, her support of fellow teachers, and her involvement in various student HPHS groups. Outside of the classroom, she continues to lead with remarkable strength and perseverance as a caregiver to her husband while remaining committed to her calling as an educator. Her consistency, compassion, and resilience reflect her deep dedication to both her family and her students.”

Dr. Avalin Thompson | Instructional Specialist - 3DE, Potomac HS

“Dr. Thompson exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional educational leader through her unwavering commitment to excellence, her attention to detail, and her ability to foster a culture of accountability and respect. What sets Dr. Thompson apart is her balance of professionalism and approachability. Dr. Thompson is not simply a leader in title—she leads by example every single day. Her presence motivates others to perform at their best, and her leadership inspires confidence and unity across the campus.”

Dr. Tracy Oates | Assistant Principal, Maya Angelou French Immersion

“Dr. Oates has dedicated her life to the art of education, acting as a foundational architect for educators in our community. I have witnessed her unwavering dedication to students, staff, and families. She consistently pours into others—supporting teachers, encouraging students, and building strong relationships with parents to ensure every child is positioned for success. She is a true leader who leads with her heart, ensuring everyone in her orbit is in full bloom.”

Lacy Lanham | Computerized Maintenance Management Systems Coordinator

“Lacy is awesome! She excels at being a dispatcher for Building Services. She is always willing to go above and beyond. She truly is part of the backbone that keeps day to day operations going at PGCPS. Her promotion to Computerized Maintenance Management Systems Coordinator is long overdue but well deserved!”