We don’t need anyone to tell us that Rockville has great schools. The teachers, volunteers and students are what make Rockville schools great. In addition to teaching the "three Rs," the teachers create an environment for the students to be successful and to be part of the community. Here are a few ways they accomplish this:

• By providing quality teaching. As Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr said in his July, 2011 welcome message on the MCPS site, “MCPS is well-positioned for greater success if we continue to focus on what matters most—ensuring that high quality teaching and learning is happening in each and every classroom, every day”. 
• By partnering with PTAs. Last March, the Beall Elementary School teachers participated in the PTA's third annual March Madness basketball challenge fundraiser.
• By supporting the students. Recently Wootton High School principal Michael Doran banned homework for a weekend to enable seniors to prepare their college applications and essays and the rest of the school to do college testing prep and student service learning hours.
• By demonstrating how to give back. In January, fifth-grade teacher Marty Chappell helped organize Fallsmead Elementary School students to collect money and supplies for an orphanage in Haiti.
• By helping the sick. Erica Cerniglia and Liz Litzenburg, teachers at Lakewood Elementary School, coordinated a school-wide fundraiser to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
• By supporting the homeless. Students, staff and families at Richard Montgomery High School participated in a walk and cookout to raise money for Stepping Stones Shelter, a Rockville nonprofit that provides shelter services for homeless families.