More than 161,000 students will head back to school on Tuesday, Sep. 5 for the start of the 2017-2018 school year. More than 900 teachers have been hired, and there are 26 new principals who can’t wait to get to know their new students and families. These principals were asked to share a fun or interesting fact with MCPS QuickNotes that they would like their school communities to know.

Elementary Schools

Lawrence Chep, principal, Clopper Mill Elementary School

Karen M. Cox, principal, Westbrook Elementary School

I am a busy, proud mom of one 7th grader and two 6th graders (all in MCPS) and enjoy spending time relaxing at the beach!

Mark Craemer, principal, Darnestown Elementary School

My wife and three of my sisters-in-law are educators. Our family is passionate about teaching and learning and we love to talk about ways to positively impact the lives of children.

Kristin Donohue, principal, Cannon Road Elementary School

I love to go to Zumba and dance to Latin music. I was recently in Puerto Vallarta on vacation and I knew many of the Latin songs that were being played at the resort!

Matthew Hawkins, principal, Viers Mill Elementary School

My wife, Jessica, is a speech pathologist with MCPS. We enjoy playing outside with our two sons Cameron and Chase, and visiting our out-of-state family.

Deneise Hammond, principal, Rachel Carson Elementary School

I love spending time with my husband of 17 years, Chris, and my 7-year-old son C.J. I always try to leave a little positivity wherever I go.

Lisa Henry, principal, Summit Hall Elementary School

My family and I love to spend time together at the beach. I have two daughters who attend Matsunaga Elementary School.

Craig Jackson, principal, Woodlin Elementary School

Courtney Jones, principal, Cashell Elementary School

Each school year is a new beginning. The first day of school is the perfect opportunity to start your regular household routines.

Xavier Kimber, principal, Brookhaven Elementary School

When I am not at bowling practice for my daughter Zai or baseball practice for my son Evan, I enjoy traveling once a year to see the Oakland Raiders play.

Jae Lee, principal, Carderock Springs Elementary School

I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea before immigrating to the United States when I was 13 years old. My wife and I are expecting our second daughter in October.

MaryBeth O. Mantzouranis, principal, Weller Road Elementary School

My favorite things are to be at the beach and to spend time with my son (a rising senior who actually enjoys my company.) The best is when we’re at the beach together!

Candace Ross, principal, Kensington Parkwood Elementary School

I lived in France for a year and recorded tapes for students learning English.

Daniel K. Tucci, principal, Garrett Park Elementary School

My wife works at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. I love watching my two daughters play sports – golf, soccer and swimming.

Middle Schools

Norman Coleman, principal, Francis Scott Key Middle School

I ziplined across canyons that were more than 2,000 feet above the ground!

Matt Johnson, principal, Eastern Middle School

I enjoy playing soccer and beekeeping when not hanging out with my wife and my family.

Kisha Logan, principal, Montgomery Village Middle School

When I was a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, I was a member of the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band as a flute and mellophone player. I had the opportunity to travel the country with the Terps and even marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Alana Murray, principal, Shady Grove Middle School

I am a twin! My sister is a law professor at Marquette University. With two grandmothers who were teachers, education runs in the family!

Heidi Slatcoff, principal, Earle B. Wood Middle School

As a former college volleyball player my love for sports continues and I enjoy attending various sporting events.

Traci Townsend, principal, Silver Creek Middle School

I enjoy exercising and I begin most mornings with a workout to start my day off right. Being a part of the new Silver Creek community is one of the most exciting events that I have been involved in during my MCPS career.

High Schools

Casey Crouse, principal, Damascus High School

I love to spend time with our two boys, aged 17 and 14. Our favorite place to be is on any beach where the sun is shining and the water is warm.

Shawn Krasa, principal, Thomas Edison

Joshua Munsey, principal, John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents

I am a product of MCPS (Wheaton High School) who loves to spend time with my wife, who graduated from Gaithersburg High School, and my children who are all MCPS students (Olney Elementary School, Rosa Parks Middle School and Sherwood High School).

Edward Owusu, principal, Clarksburg High School

My first teacher (my mother) told me to enjoy every bit of learning and schooling. I have taken that advice and love what I do. I’m living the dream!

Robert Sinclair, principal, James Hubert Blake High School

I am the proud parent of two MCPS students, a 10th grader at Northwest High School and a 7th grader at Kingsview Middle School. I am passionate about providing each student with the learning environment I want for my children.

Acting Principals

Jon Green, acting principal, John Poole Middle School

My wife and I met while teaching math at Blake High School. We are the proud parents of three children all attending MCPS. I love coffee, running and the Yankees!

Watch Shawn Krasa, principal, Thomas Edison High School, talk about the new building for Edison and the importance of Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs in Montgomery County Public Schools.