Awards

2026 Faculty Recognition Awards

Primary Years Programme - Menet McCoy (Melwood Elementary School)

Ms. McCoy collaborates with colleagues through shared reflection and interdisciplinary planning, ensuring a holistic student experience. By framing lessons around global contexts, she inspires students to be compassionate, lifelong learners who view challenges through a critical, international lens. In the classroom, she acts as a facilitator, empowering young people to take agency over their education. Through service learning, she bridges the gap between theory and action, encouraging students to become active, principled global citizens dedicated to positive change. In addition, she is leading Melwood through the Maryland Green School recertification process this year. In December she was named the "Principled Staff Member of the Month".

Middle Years Programme - Christopher Klepadlo (Maya Angelou French Immersion IB World School)

Prof. Klepadlo has pioneered a culture of transparency within the Middle Years Programme by moving beyond standard instruction to the explicit teaching of exemplar assessments. By deconstructing complex MYP criteria and global contexts alongside our scholars, he demystifies the rubrics and provides a clear roadmap for achieving high levels of achievement. I was particularly impressed by his recent visual showcase of summative results; this initiative served as a powerful model of standardization and pedagogical best practices for our entire faculty. Prof. Klepadlo truly embodies the IB learner profile as a reflective practitioner. He is constantly auditing his inquiry-based units to ensure they remain rigorous, culturally relevant, and aligned with IB philosophy. As an effective communicator and collaborator, he proactively shares his data-driven outcomes to elevate our teaching community. His commitment to excellence and his dedication to student agency make him an invaluable asset to our school and a true champion of the IB mission.

Career-related Programme - Shreyas Patel (DC International School)

Shreyas leads our Health Sciences pathway with aplomb. He coordinates guest speakers and trips to local medical institutions, and has started a Health Occupation Students of America club that has hundreds of members, including middle schoolers. He is now the lead for HOSA for all of the district, and has guided our students to be leaders on the state board. He has built out a curriculum for anatomy and clinical skills classes and has helped lead PD for all of our science and career-tech-education teacher teams. He is a model staff member at DCI, always willing to help out colleagues. Students love his classes, and the health sciences pathway has grown into a true juggernaut of our school under his leadership.

Career-related Programme - Dawn Schumer (Meade High School)

 Dawn Schumer, an exceptional DP English teacher whose leadership of the Extended Essay (EE) program has had a lasting impact on both students and staff. In this role, Dawn brings clarity, consistency, and academic rigor to one of the most demanding components of the IB Diploma Programme. Dawn works closely with students throughout the EE process, guiding them from topic selection to final submission with a balance of high expectations and thoughtful support. Her expertise in research, writing, and inquiry helps students develop independence, confidence, and academic discipline—skills that extend well beyond the EE itself. Students consistently describe Dawn as approachable, organized, and deeply invested in their success. Dawn’s collaboration with colleagues is integral to student success. As EE coordinator, she provides clear guidance to supervisors, facilitates communication across departments, and ensures alignment with IB requirements and timelines. Her ability to support staff while maintaining program fidelity strengthens the overall implementation of IB at the school. Dawn is a dedicated advocate for the IB philosophy, modeling the learner profile through reflective practice, academic integrity, and a commitment to excellence. Her leadership and professionalism make them an invaluable asset to the Meade IB community.

2026 Student Excellence Awards

Primary Years Programme - Ari Mulligan (Strelitz International Academy)

“In 2023 and 2024, for my birthday, instead of getting presents, I asked everyone to bring canned food. I took the food to the food pantry and stocked the shelves. The volunteers there told me who the food helped. This showed me the importance of intercultural understanding and respect.  I learned that helping someone in need is better than getting something for your own benefit.”

Middle Years Programme - Jeevesh Sivakumar (Thomas Jefferson Middle School)

"Being a risk-taker and being balanced are totally essential for crushing it in life and making a real difference in our community. Taking risks isn't about being reckless but it's about having the courage to try new things like joining a team or speaking up for what you believe, which is how we grow, build confidence, and create positive change for everyone. But you can't just go all out all the time which is why being balanced is key. It's the super-power of knowing how to manage your school work, friendships, and personal time so you don't burn out. When we are balanced, we are happier, healthier, and better prepared to support our friends and community. So, to truly succeed, you need to be a brave risk-taker who is also a smart and balanced individual, the one pushes you forward, and the other makes sure you’re strong enough for the journey."

Career-related Programme - Blakely Pfaff (Rockville High School)

“My most meaningful communication project was collaborating with Neo on Daisy’s Dare, a graphic novel created as part of my Confidence Tour. I wanted something that girls could take with them to further their confidence journey. I developed the story and partnered with Neo to bring the character to life through his artwork. Daisy’s Dare is about a girl dared by her friend to take healthy risks to build her confidence. Together, we self-published the book on Amazon.”

Career-related Programme - Zander Hine (North Hagerstown High School)

“Together with a few friends, I created Rooted, a community-engagement app that allows users to report local issues such as littered areas or invasive species. Additionally, nonprofit organizations can post events that need volunteers. We've connected more than 100 people with opportunities to support their community. Building Rooted taught me that people want to make a difference but need help finding a way. This project pushed me to collaborate, listen, and understand the needs of my community.”