Press Release: Fort Foote Elementary Principal Honored with National Leadership Award
April 17, 2025
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UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Fort Foote Elementary School Principal Dr. Ryan Daniel was named a National Distinguished Principal by the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP). The honor was presented in a special ceremony at the school on April 11, recognizing Dr. Daniel’s exceptional leadership and dedication to student success.
A proud graduate of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), Dr. Daniel brings 18 years of educational experience to her role. Her journey has taken her from the classroom as a teacher and mentor to leadership positions as assistant principal at Calverton Elementary and principal at Chillum Elementary, before joining Fort Foote in 2021.
"Dr. Daniel brings both heart and innovation to her work as a leader, and is dedicated to creating learning environments where students feel supported, seen, and valued,” said Superintendent Millard House II. “She’s equally committed to empowering educators and working tirelessly to build meaningful partnerships that strengthen the home-to-school connection.”
Through Daniel's leadership, Fort Foote has cultivated a strong, collaborative school culture focused on equity and academic growth. The school’s targeted efforts to support English Language Learners (ELL) – including strategic teacher collaboration, data-driven interventions, and family engagement through Parent Academies – have significantly closed the achievement gap between ELLs and non-ELLs, narrowing it from -17.1% to just 0.3% over the past three years. Fort Foote has also earned recognition as one of Maryland’s Top 50 schools for reading performance on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP).
"Dr. Daniel has the remarkable ability to build and sustain a positive school climate and culture,” said Instructional Director Sheena Hardy. “Her emphasis on relationship building is evident in the way she fosters open communication and genuine partnerships with all stakeholders, ensuring that the needs of her students and families are met holistically.”
In addition to her work within the school, Dr. Daniel is a respected leader at the national level. Through the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), she has mentored first-year educators as a National Mentor Principal and served in multiple leadership roles, including Executive Board Member, President Elect, President, and now Immediate Past President. She is a contributing author to She Leads: A Woman’s Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership, a book celebrating women in education, and serves on Maryland’s Blueprint Implementation Team.
Dr. Daniel’s leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including PGCPS’ 2023 nominee for The Washington Post Principal of the Year and receiving the Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. Community Service Award in both 2022 and 2024.
She holds a doctorate from Bowie State University and a master’s degree from Trinity Washington University.
Established in 1984, the National Distinguished Principals (https://maesp.org/National_Distinguished_Principal_Program) ® (NDP) program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who demonstrate excellence in leadership, student achievement, and school culture.
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