Takoma Park Elementary School principal Zadia Gadsden was named 2024 Principal of the Year by The Washington Post on Tuesday.
Gadsden, chosen from 16 finalists in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, is the longest serving principal in the Montgomery Blair cluster of schools. Her motto is “every child, every day” — a phrase that’s guided her approaches to ensuring every student has adequate care and opportunities, according to The Post.
Some of the ways Gadsden has improved the 620-student elementary school have been creating programs to enhance math and STEM curricula, hosting events for non-English speaking parents and creating a book club for Hispanic and African American students.
Like many schools, Takoma Park Elementary has seen increased behavioral issues since student return from the COVID-19 pandemic. Years of limited socialization has led to some students experience dysregulation — the ability to control emotional responses.
Gadsden takes a “restorative justice” approach to discipline that encourages students to understand the impact of their actions and give something positive back to people they hurt, according to The Post.
Several other Montgomery County Public School teachers and principals were named finalists for this year’s competition. The Post has presented the annual honor for more than 40 years to highlight excellence in school leadership and recognize community leaders, who are nominated by their school systems and then picked from a list of finalists.
Photo Courtesy of Takoma Park Elementary School.
