Recognizing her ability to create collaborative cultures where every voice is valued and inspire academic achievement across all student groups, Southern Middle School Principal Kelly McVey has been named 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals.
McVey, who has served students as a teacher and administrator for 18 years, learned of the award when MASSP Executive Director Chris Truffer, Board of Education Member Dawn Pulliam, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell and other school system leaders made a surprise visit to the school on Friday.
The award, given by MASSP as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals' Principal of the Year program, recognizes a leader who is engaging in actions that positively impact all students and their schools. A principal’s work in the areas of curriculum, instruction and assessment as well as personal excellence, guiding a mission and vision focused on student performance, collaboration and building teams that foster a positive and goal-oriented culture are all factors in the judging.
“I am truly honored to receive this award and hope it reflects the incredible commitment and dedication of our staff in serving our students every day,” McVey said. “I am grateful for this recognition, knowing that so many exceptional principals across our state are making a difference in their communities. I am especially thankful for the support of our amazing Southern Middle School community over the past four years. It has been a privilege to grow and serve alongside such dedicated students, staff, and families.”
Dr. Bedell called McVey “a passionate and compassionate leader who expertly guides a team focused on our systemwide efforts to help every student Belong, Grow, and Succeed.
“She is a principal that any parent would love for their child to have and is enormously deserving of this award,” Dr. Bedell said. “We are incredibly proud that she is a member of our team.”
McVey began her career teaching social studies in Howard County. She transitioned to an administrative leadership role 11 years ago, when she was named an assistant principal at North County High School. She held the position for four years and served in the same capacity at Old Mill Middle School South for three years before becoming principal at Southern Middle School in the 2021-2022 school year.
In a letter supporting McVey’s nomination, one Southern Middle School parent wrote that the principal “embodies the AACPS Strategic Plan’s core principles. She ensures that all students’ needs are met to remove barriers to learning. My children have flourished under her leadership.”
Southern Middle School has earned three stars on every Maryland Report Card since McVey has been principal. Despite a rapidly changing student demographic, the school has seen consistent improvement in that time in student performance, particularly on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). Last year, for example, Southern’s English Language Development students tied for second among comprehensive middle schools for student growth on the ELA MCAP and the school’s seventh-graders demonstrated the highest overall ELA MCAP growth in the county.
The school was also named a 2024 Wellness School of Distinction, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a high priority for the health and well-being of students, staff, and school supporters by going beyond the curriculum to produce positive outcomes for the entire school community.
As the state winner, McVey will now participate in the National Principal of the Year program. The national winner will be announced in July.
