Recognitions
Edward Shirley Award for Excellence Deans of Educational Administration Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Edward Shirley Award
for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision
NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR THE 2024 AWARD.
The Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision is given annually by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP), to recognize an outstanding administrator or supervisor of Montgomery County Public Schools. Eligible candidates include principals, assistant principals, school business administrators, directors, supervisors and other administrator and supervisory positions within the MCAAP/MCBOA unit. The award is presented by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP), with the support of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
Margarita Bohórquez, director of International Admissions and Enrollment (IAE), is this year’s winner of the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision.
This prestigious award, given by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP), is presented annually to an administrator or supervisor who exemplifies outstanding leadership and accomplishments in purposeful leadership, instructional or systemwide leadership, human resources development, resource management, interpersonal skills, professional involvement, and community and stakeholder involvement.
Bohórquez’s MCPS career began in 1998 where she started as an ESOL teacher. She has spent the last 26 years serving families and students of English language learners in schools and central office. In 2017, she was appointed supervisor of IAE and, in 2023, she was appointed to her current position where her work continues to grow. This year, IAE is serving more than 4,000 students.
Bohórquez is known for her resourcefulness and passion for students and families who are navigating a new school system, and oftentimes, a new culture. She works tirelessly to ensure that international families have social and educational support to ensure academic success. Her partnership with state and county offices, and organizations has helped thousands of students and families have support that has been foundational in meeting students’ unique personal, cultural and educational needs.
Her strong commitment to educational excellence, coupled with her dedication to serving the international student population and community, makes her an exceptional leader in MCPS. She is known for going above and beyond to support stakeholders within and beyond the school community. Her efforts to ensure uniform interpretation and evaluation of foreign transcripts demonstrates her commitment to academic achievement and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, she actively participates in professional activities and provides services to professional organizations across the Washington metropolitan area.
Bohórquez communicates in a respectful, effective and open manner. Her advocacy for children experiencing unstable housing is unmatched. Her intervention with crisis residency cases showcases her exceptional interpersonal, bilingual and culturally affirming skills. Due to her extensive experience and expertise working with multilingual learners, she supports other offices within MCPS. She is able to put into action her knowledge of students’ needs that welcomes them into the school and broader community.
In welcoming and supporting newcomers, Bohórquez leads a diverse team of more than 50 mental health professionals, intake specialists, residency specialists, administrative staff, testing assessors and community navigators. She affirms their identity and facilitates cross-office collaboration. Her compassion and empathy for her team is evident in her open-door policy and their willingness to reach out to her at any time, for any reason. She not only shows this level of involvement to her team, but also to the MCPS community. She regularly attends family outreach events and families never doubt her commitment to them.
As a result of her excellent resource management, Bohórquez communicates with families and stakeholders to ensure they can maximize use of the vast information available through IAE. She stays well-informed about financial policies and procedures to optimize available resources for international students and families. Recently arrived immigrants, refugees and dignitaries visit the Welcome Center to enroll for school, and seek resources relating to health insurance, legal services, employment, housing, clothing, food and care. Other counties and school systems ask to tour the Welcome Center where Bohórquez and her team share best practices. She brings in temporary part-time staff to address staffing shortages during peak enrollment seasons.
Along with other award recipients, Bohórquez will be honored at the Champions for Children celebration on Wednesday, May 1 at Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville. She will also be recognized at MCAAP’s spring membership meeting on Thursday, May 16, and at the Summer Leadership Conference on Thursday, June 20.
Full MCPS Article- https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/news/bulletin/2024-04/april-10-2024/director-of-international-admissions-wins-edward-shirley-award/
Past Award Winners:
2023-24
Beth F. Thomas
Hallie Wells
2022-23
James Allrich
Argyle MS
2021-22
Rachel Dubois
Bayard Rustin ES
2020-21
Scott Murphy
Curriculum and Instruction
2019-20
Celeste King
Southlake ES
2018-19
Myriam Yarbrough, EdD.
Paint Branch HS
2017-18
Audra Fladung
School Support and Improvement
2016-17
E. Frank Kaplan
Strawberry Knoll ES
2015-16
Betty Collins
Instructional Leadership Support
2014-15
Christine Handy Collins
Gaithersburg HS
2013-14
Eugenia S. Dawson
Earle B. Wood MS
2012-13
Robert Domergue
Damascus HS
2011-12
Michael Bayewitz
Broad Acres ES
2010-11
Jeffrey M. Martinez
Organizational Development
2009-10
Sandra B. Sengstack
Human Resources
2008 - 09
Debra Mugge Ed.D
Argyle MS
2007-08
Carole C. Goodman
James Hubert Blake HS
2006-07
Robert Batress, Ph.D
Organizational Development
2005-06
Daniel J. Shea
Quince Orchard HS
2004-05
Phillip Gainous
Montgomery Blair HS
Congratulations to the 2024 winner of the
Dr. Edward Shirley Award
Margarita Bohórquez
Deans of Educational Administration Award
The Deans of Educational Administration is a recognition announced annually by the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP) to honor leaders who have dedicated 30 or more years to administration in an educational setting. First begun in 2000, the Deans of Educational Administration who have been recognized are listed below.
Leroy Evans, 2020
Jeffrey Martinez, 2019
Marla Caplon, 2018
Betty Collins, 2017
Donna Hollingshead, 2017
Ikhide (Roland) Ikheloa, 2017
Kathleen Lazor, 2017
Margaret Pastor, 2017
Daniel Shea, 2017
Jack Smith, 2017
Zvi Greismann, 2016
Judith Lewis, 2016
Michael Doran, 2015
Carlos Hamlin, 2015
Patricia Kelly, 2015
Kwang ‘Sunny’ Lee, 2015
Lamar Whitmore, 2015
Larry Bowers, 2014
Linda Goldberg, 2014
Bobbi Jasper, 2014
Lynn Brown, 2012
Pearl Drain, 2012
Eileen Macfarlane, 2012
Edye Miller, 2012
Wayne Whigham, 2012
Patricia Janus, 2011
Ralph Viggiano, 2011
Jane Butler, 2010
Barbara Leister, 2010
Dick Lipsky, 2010
Cabell Lloyd, 2010
Jevoner Adams, 2009
Joan Benz, 2009
Michael Cohen, 2006
James Fernandez, 2006
Andrew Coleman, 2005
Samuel Daniel, 2005
Donald Kress, 2005
Michael Durso, 2004
David Litsey, 2004
Donald Hennessey, 2002
Charles Murkey, 2002
Rebecca Newman, 2002
Paul Scott, 2002
Jerry Weast, 2002
Joan Cisz, 2001
Betty Howard, 2001
William Monie, 2001
Barron Stroud, 2001
Pat Abrunzo, 2000
Robert Bastress, 2000
Yi Chen, 2000
George Cokinos, 2000
Lee Coldren, 2000
Barbara Contrera, 2000
William Curran, 2000
Thomas Eakin, 2000
Phillip Gainous, 2000
Donald Graham, 2000
Wilma Holmes, 2000
Brenda Lee, 2000
Jerome Marco, 2000
Alfred Rico, 2000
Richard Towers, 2000
Walter Tozier, 2000
William Wilhoyte, 2000
Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award
Congratulations to Our 2024 Award Winner
Dr. Kecia Addison
Past Recipients:
The Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award is designed to recognize and express appreciation to MCAAP/MCBOA members who have effectively provided distinguished service to MCAAP over time and made exemplary contributions to the association. It is also designed to inspire other members to actively support MCAAP and the professional growth of all members.
This award was established by the MCAAP Board of Directors and funded by MCAAP’s former executive director, Edye Miller, upon her retirement in 2017. The recipient receives a cash award of $2,000 presented in June. In addition, the deserving member’s name will be engraved in a special commendation plaque displayed in the MCAAP office.
A nominee for this award shall have made an impact on the association through
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sustained and effective service (s) to the association,
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support through distinguished voluntary service over time,
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commitment to the professional growth of members and/or to the profession of educational leadership on behalf of the association,
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exemplary contributions to the mission of the association, and
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actions which inspire others to actively support the association.
Montgomery County Public School administrators and supervisors may be nominated and considered for this award if they meet the following requirements:
· Current voting member of MCAAP/MCBOA, and
· Five years of continuous and recent voting membership in MCAAP/MCBOA, and
· Not a previous recipient of the award
Full-time MCAAP/MCBOA members and staff working for the association are not
eligible for consideration of this award. Current members working full time for MCAAP are
eligible for consideration three years after the expiration of their term of office.
Any current, former, or retired MCAAP/MCBOA member may nominate a person for this award. Those full-time MCAAP/MCBOA members and staff working for the association may not nominate or write supporting letters for nominees.
Nominations will open in April 2024 for the next year's award, please follow link below for the 2024 nomination packet!
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:899bd242-cadc-4004-a5d0-dd85c69de161