University of Maryland College of Education Alumnus Dr. Joey Jones (Ph.D. ’94) was named Maryland’s Middle School Principal-of-the-Year for his leadership at Robert Frost Middle School in Montgomery County and selected as a finalist for a national Principal of the Year award.
The Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), selected Dr. Jones as MASSP’s Middle School Principal-of-the-Year. In addition, he has been selected as a finalist for the NASSP Principal-of-the-Year award, which is a national competition.
In the MASSP awards announcement, Dr. Jones is described as an accomplished educator and author. He has been a school administrator for twenty-four years; seventeen of those he served as principal of Robert Frost.
“A student-centered and collaborative leader, Dr. Jones believes that success is everyone’s responsibility. He will take risks for the common good, and those risks pay off with improved data and a culture of community.”
"Among many of his accomplishments, Dr. Jones developed the program E-TAG: Eliminating the Achievement Gap and held an evening panel discussion on race and equity. He also facilitated and held a federal government employee shutdown dinner for families in his community. Dr. Jones has been called a caring and truly compassionate leader with high expectations for all," according to the MASSP awards announcement.
Dr. Jones earned his bachelors and master’s degrees in industrial arts/technology education from North Carolina A&T State University. He was awarded an academic fellowship to attend the University of Maryland where he earned his doctorate in public school administration and supervision from the College of Education.
News of Dr. Jones’ accomplishment was featured in Bethesda Magazine, WTOP, and Montgomery Sentinel.
Principal of the Year finalists were recognized at the 2020 NASSP Principals Institute, an event that convenes state principals from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools, and the U.S. Department of Defense Eeducation Activity.
