September 17 - September 23, 2026

Photo credit Prince George’s County Public Schools
“When an educator believes in [students] and helps, most importantly, to build their sense of academic identity as a student, that’s where change begins to happen,” said PGCPS 2026–27 Teacher of the Year Clara Allsup.

PGCPS Teacher of the Year Clara Allsup Named Finalist for 2027 Maryland Teacher of the Year
International High School at Langley Park educator brings personal experience, military service and deep commitment to multilingual learners to statewide honor

By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s County Public Schools

Upper Marlboro, Md. (Sept 9, 2026)—Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) 2026–27 Teacher of the Year Clara Allsup has been named one of seven finalists for 2027 Maryland Teacher of the Year. An English teacher at International High School at Langley Park, Allsup is a National Board Certified Teacher and former U.S. Air Force cryptologic linguist whose own journey has shaped the way she teaches, leads and advocates for students.

“Ms. Allsup embodies the very best of what it means to be a PGCPS educator,” said Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “Her personal journey, her deep understanding of our multilingual learners and her belief in the potential of every student are a powerful reflection of the educators who serve our students every day. We are incredibly proud to see Clara represent Prince George’s County on the statewide stage.”

The daughter of immigrants from Egypt and Mexico, Allsup was born in Prince George’s County and attended PGCPS as a young student. Her parents instilled in her from an early age the transformative power of education and the opportunities it can create.

At International High School at Langley Park, Allsup teaches English to multilingual learners, provides professional learning for educators and leaders, helps design her school’s master schedule to expand academic support for multilingual learners, and chairs the Recruitment and Intake Committee, connecting newly enrolled students with critical services.

“I see my multilingual learners and my students as extensions of my family,” Allsup said. “They look like my family. They talk like my family. We just have a lot of cultural connections.”
 
Growing up navigating Arab, Latino and American cultures, Allsup said she sometimes felt as though she did not fully belong in any one of them.

It was in public school that she found a place where she could simply be a student.

“The public school system served everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or their beliefs,” she said. “I felt like it was a place where I could just be a student and belong. And that's what I strive to bring to my classroom. I really want school to be a place where all of our students can just be their authentic selves and belong.”

That belief is reflected in her classroom practice. Allsup works with colleagues to incorporate diverse texts that reflect students’ identities, teaches students about the evolution of American identity and the role of immigrants in shaping the country, and creates opportunities for students to build community through discussion, shared reading and debate.

She also recognizes that multilingual learners are not a single group with a single set of needs.

“Students who are new to the country, students who are more experienced long-term multilingual learners, and students with interrupted education all have different needs,” she said.

Allsup challenges fellow educators to look beyond language proficiency and recognize what students already know and can do.

“We have such a great opportunity to be the catalyst for change in students’ lives,” she said. “When an educator believes in them and helps, most importantly, to build their sense of academic identity as a student, that’s where change begins to happen.”

Her work extends to families as well.

As the daughter of immigrants, Allsup understands the sacrifices families make in pursuit of opportunity for their children.

“Immigrant families make so many sacrifices and take so many risks just for the chance of providing a better life for their loved ones,” she said. “They place their complete trust in us ... to nurture their children. So for me, families are our strongest partners in the classroom.”

Maryland Teacher of the Year finalists were selected from the 24 local school system Teachers of the Year across Maryland. Finalists were evaluated on rigorous criteria including student achievement, teaching philosophy, academic results, community involvement and knowledge of educational issues.

The 2027 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced during a gala reception and dinner on Friday, October 9, at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Cockeysville. The Maryland Teacher of the Year will compete for the National Teacher of the Year
 
Award, which will be announced in April, and will serve during the 2026–2027 school year as a speaker and advisor on statewide education issues.

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28 PGCPS Schools Named Among ‘America’s Healthiest Schools’
PGCPS more than doubles its number of nationally recognized schools, leads Maryland with 28 of the state’s 37 honorees and earns four prestigious All-Star distinctions

By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s County Public Schools

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (Sept. 10, 2026)—Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is celebrating a remarkable expansion of its commitment to whole-child health, with 28 schools named among the 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

The recognition represents more than double the number of PGCPS schools honored in 2025, when 13 schools earned a place on the national list. This year, PGCPS schools account for 28 of the 37 Maryland schools recognized, nearly 76% of all honorees statewide.

The national recognition celebrates schools that are creating healthier, more supportive learning environments through comprehensive approaches to student and staff well-being, including nutrition and food access, physical activity, school health services, mental health, staff wellness and family and community engagement.

Four PGCPS Schools Earn All-Star Recognition

Four PGCPS elementary schools including Carmody Hills, Melwood, Robert R. Gray and Springhill Lake earned the Alliance’s prestigious All-Star Award by achieving recognition across all nine health and wellness categories.

Only six schools statewide achieved the distinction, meaning four of Maryland’s six All-Star schools are in PGCPS.

The All-Star designation represents the highest level of recognition from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and recognizes schools demonstrating comprehensive commitment across nine areas of health and wellness.

Those areas include:

• Nutrition & Food Access

• Physical Education & Physical Activity

• School Health Services

• Mental Health & Well-Being

• Staff Well-Being

• Family & Community Engagement

• And additional areas supporting healthy school environments

“This recognition is a reflection of the work happening every day in our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “Our schools are not simply talking about wellness, they are building it into the student experience, from what students eat and how they move to the relationships, supports and opportunities that help them feel connected and ready to learn.”

PGCPS leads all districts in Maryland for the number of schools recognized on the 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools list.

PGCPS’ 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools

The 28 PGCPS schools recognized this year are:

• Beacon Heights Elementary School

• Bladensburg Elementary School

• Carmody Hills Elementary School ? All-Star

• Charles Carroll Middle School

• Clinton Grove Elementary School

• Colin Powell Academy

• Cora L. Rice Elementary School

• Doswell E. Brooks Elementary School

• Drew Freeman Middle School

• Eleanor Roosevelt High School

• Flintstone Elementary School

• Fort Washington Forest Elementary School

• Frances Fuchs Early Childhood Center
 
• Francis T. Evans Elementary School

• General James Gholson Middle School

• Judge Sylvania Woods Sr. Elementary School

• Kettering Middle School

• Largo High School

• Melwood Elementary School ? All-Star

• Northwestern High School

• Overlook Full Spanish Immersion School

• Oxon Hill Middle School

• Robert R. Gray Elementary School ? All-Star

• Rosaryville Elementary School

• Springhill Lake Elementary School ? All-Star

• Thomas S. Stone Elementary School

• Valley View Elementary School

• Waldon Woods Elementary School

The 2026 recognition builds on the momentum of the 13 PGCPS schools honored in 2025 and demonstrates the district’s growing focus on comprehensive wellness as part of the educational experience.

From nutritious meals and increased opportunities for physical activity to health services, mental health supports and partnerships that connect families with resources, PGCPS schools are taking a holistic approach to helping students thrive.

“This is what it looks like when wellness becomes part of the culture of a school,” Joseph said. “We are proud of every school recognized and especially proud of the educators, staff, students and families who make this work possible.”

The America’s Healthiest Schools recognition is presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to schools that demonstrate a commitment to advancing the health and well-being of students and staff through evidence-based practices and policies.

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Governor Moore Announces New Maryland Headquarters for Founding Farmers

By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the Governor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Sept. 8, 2026)—Governor Wes Moore today announced that Founding Farmers—a farmer-owned restaurant, full-service catering, and distilling business—has expanded operations in Prince George’s County. In 2024, Founding Farmers purchased 8100 Cryden Way in District Heights to grow its commercial kitchen; since then, the company has moved its D.C. headquarters into the 17,000 square-foot facility, here in Maryland.

The Prince George’s County space is now fully operational, producing scratch-made food and drink—including house-roasted coffee, handcrafted chocolates, fresh-baked pastries, and more—for Founding Farmers restaurants and its catering and events company. By the end of 2027, Founding Farmers expects to have created more than 90 new full-time jobs, making it a welcome addition to the Prince George’s County community.

“Here in Maryland, we’re welcoming businesses and building a competitive, dynamic economy that brings prosperity to our communities,” said Gov. Moore. “We are excited to welcome the Founding Farmers headquarters to our state, as they continue to expand on Maryland’s world-class cuisine, champion our local farmers and bring high-quality food industry jobs to our people.”

Founding Farmers employs more than 1,400 employees throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including its catering company and eight restaurant locations. As a farmer-owned establishment, the business has thrived on making its products from scratch, utilizing ingredients from trusted farmers, while continuing to send a greater portion of the food dollar back to its farmer-owners. The facility centralizes pieces of their production and administration in one space, including catering operations, some of its food and drink, holiday offerings, culinary classes, contact center, and more. Looking ahead, the space will support the future launch of a direct-to-consumer online shop, bringing Founding Farmers scratch-made products directly to customers nationwide.

“We’re all-in for Maryland, and we’re thrilled to have our District Heights headquarters,” said Co-founder of Founding Farmers and long-time Maryland resident Dan Simons. “The employee base is strong, the long-term investment thesis in the area is compelling, and the proximity to the Beltway is an essential ingredient for our expansion recipe that helps us better serve our restaurants, diners, and customers.”

The concept of Founding Farmers was originally conceived in 2005 and is majority owned by American family farmers, including the 70,000 members of the North Dakota Farmers Union. The group established its first restaurant in 2008 in Washington, D.C., expanding to eight restaurant locations across the Mid-Atlantic, and opening its Founding Spirits distillery in 2016 in Washington, D.C. Each location upholds the Founding Farmers mission: delicious, sustainable food and drink made from scratch with high-quality ingredients sourced from family-owned farms, ranches, and producers across the nation. In 2023, the group launched Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events, now competing directly with the top ten caterers in the trade area.

The Moore-Miller administration is committed to supporting all businesses that call Maryland home. To assist with project costs, the company is eligible for a $375,000 conditional loan through Advantage Maryland, administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, and a matching $375,000 conditional loan through Prince George’s County’s Economic Development Incentive Fund.

“We are thrilled to partner with Founding Farmers as it continues to grow in Maryland. This farmer-owned enterprise is set to enrich Prince George’s County by bringing new jobs and a strong commitment to the agriculture industry to the region,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “We look forward to celebrating this exciting achievement with the company.”

“The arrival of Founding Farmers represents a powerful investment in both our local workforce and importance for the future of sustainable agriculture. Their growth strengthens our commitment to supporting Prince George’s County producers, expanding our workforce, and building a resilient, community-centered economy,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “We are proud to welcome Founding Farmers as they continue to innovate, lead, and contribute to the vibrant fabric of Prince George’s County.”

“Prince George’s County is proud to support Founding Farmers’ relocation to District Heights and the company’s impact on the local economy,” said President and CEO of Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation Ingrid Watson. “This project is a significant contribution—the company is investing in the area’s development while also supporting manufacturing industry sectors that align with the county’s strategic economic plan.”

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