Two PGCPS Educators to be Recognized by Washington Post

Two educators from Prince George's County Public Schools will be recognized by The Washington Post for their outstanding contributions to education. 

Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School Principal Carletta Marrow will receive the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award. Coit Hendley, science teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, will be honored as the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher for Prince George’s County.

Principal Recognized

“Ms. Marrow exemplifies the outstanding school leadership that is critical to moving a school district towards greatness,” said Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, chief executive officer for PGCPS. “She is focused on improving academic achievement, creating a school environment where students and staff can thrive, and building supportive partnerships with parents and the community.”

Marrow was nominated by her school community and selected by a committee of peers as the district’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Award winner. She will be honored during a ceremony and reception on May 6 at The Washington Post.

Marrow earned a bachelor of arts degree from Virginia State University in 1995 and went on to earn a master’s degree at American University. She will receive her doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University this May.

She started her career in PGCPS in 1997 as an English teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Temple Hills. She then went on to serve as an assistant principal at Northwestern High School and principal at Gwynn Park High School prior to her appointment at Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School, which has a staff of 225 serving more than 2,500 students. 

Since starting her principalship at Wise in 2010, Marrow has promoted a collaborative, positive culture of teaching and learning. To this end, she focuses on engaging staff through team building, reflective thinking and professional development. She established a successful Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports program which earned PBIS Silver and Gold awards, and a ninth-grade academy which improved the school’s retention rate. Using data to drive decision-making and instructional strategies, Marrow has also increased student scores in algebra on the High School Assessments by 19 percent.   

She is also a mentor to new principals, has served on the Maryland State Department of Education’s Principal Advisory Board, has been a Pre-Leadership Academy Presenter, and is a National Institute for School Leadership trainer.

“Ms. Marrow is a self-motivated, goal-oriented individual who possesses the resiliency and determination to withstand the rigorous academic challenges that ‘Great Leaders’ have to endure,” said Mark Fossett, instructional director. “Her take-charge demeanor permeates success and her positive outgoing attitude is one of her many trademarks.”

Teacher Honored

The Agnes Meyer award is presented to one teacher from each Washington metropolitan area school district every year. Hendley will join his colleagues for an awards ceremony on May 13 at The Washington Post.  

“As an Advanced Placement chemistry teacher, Mr. Hendley is providing students with challenging, college-level STEM opportunities that will prepare them for success in future careers,” said Maxwell. “His ability to engage students and inspire them in the field of science is renown throughout his school community.” 

Hendley has been a science educator for 37 years, spending the past 27 years in Prince George’s County serving students at Frederick Douglass and Eleanor Roosevelt high schools. Prior to joining Prince George’s County, he taught in Anne Arundel County public schools. 

He received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University and a master’s in science education from the University of Maryland. A true lifelong learner, Hendley participates in ongoing professional development opportunities and leads workshops for his fellow science teachers. He earned National Board Certification in Chemistry in 2004, and Advanced Professional Certification in 2006. 

At Eleanor Roosevelt, he developed a two-period AP Chemistry course that encouraged more students to participate in advanced level chemistry. To improve the experience for his Research Practicum students, he developed the Watershed Integrated Study Program so students taking part in the course can also conduct field research on the water quality of Prince George’s County streams. His efforts to reach out to underrepresented students resulted in his school having the highest number of African-American students in the nation with passing scores on the AP exam. 

“Mr. Hendley demonstrates the highest level of professional commitment and competency in his work,” said principal Reginal McNeill. “He sees each student as an individual and draws upon their strengths to teach them in ways that work best for them.” 

Throughout his career, Hendley has been recognized by peers and students alike for his excellence in the classroom. His awards include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, the RadioShack National Teacher Award, the PGCPS Christa McAuliffe Award, the Life Sciences Educator Award, and the Pasco STEM Educators Award.