National Distinguished Principal of the Year among MCPS leaders in new positions

July 20, 2026 11:26 a.m.

MCPS and Board of Education headquarters building. — MCPS and Board of Education headquarters in Rockville. Credit: Elia Griffin

Joshua Fine–principal of Flower Hill Elementary in Gaithersburg and Maryland’s National Distinguished Principal of the Year–is one of the many principals and district leaders who were appointed to new positions by the school board at their weekly meeting on Thursday.

Fine is heading to White Oak Middle School in Silver Spring. In addition to being named National Distinguished Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals in April, he was a finalist for The Washington Post Principal of the Year in 2025. Superintedent Thomas Taylor said Fine has worked in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for 19 years as a teacher, resource teacher, assistant principal and principal intern.

The move is part of the annual summer shuffle, this year including position cuts required to close a $36 million budget gap for the coming fiscal year. Among the cuts already announced was the elimination of the post of chief of security and compliance held by former county police Chief Marcus Jones. Safety and security will now move to the Division of School Leadership and Improvement and fall under Chief of Schools Peter Moran.

On Thursday, the school board appointed Nicole Sosik as the associate superintendent in the Division of School Leadership and Improvement. Sosik previously served as a director in the division. According to Taylor, Sosik has worked in MCPS for 22 years as a teacher, assistant school administrator, assistant principal and principal intern.

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According to her LinkedIn profile, Sosik attended Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Wilkes University for a master’s in education and Johns Hopkins University for a certification in school administration and supervision.

Other principal appointments:

The board also appointed Jeanni Chin as principal of Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown. Chin will be taking over for Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed in June to serve as the Director of the Department of Professional Development. Chin currently serves as the assistant principal of Herbert Hoover Middle in Potomac. According to Taylor, Chin has worked in MCPS for 24 years as a teacher, resource teacher, content specialist consulting principal and assistant school administrator.

Clifford Cooper Jr. was appointed to serve as the principal of Garrett Park Elementary School in Kensington. Cooper will replace Daniel Tucci as principal. Cooper currently serves as the principal intern at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville. He has worked in MCPS for 16 years as a teacher, assistant school administrator and assistant principal, Taylor said.

Jada Langston was appointed to serve as principal of the Carl Sandburg Learning Center, a “small, public, elementary school dedicated to providing special education instruction to students with multiple disabilities,” according to its website. Taylor said Langston has worked in MCPS for six years as an assistant principal, principal and acting principal. Langston currently serves as a director in specialized education services.

The board also appointed the following positions:

Jamila Denney to director in the Division of School Leadership and Improvement

Shannon Farmer to director in the Department of Special Education Services

Lisa Gaillard-Jones to director in the Department of Special Education and Related Services

Kishara Perry to executive director in the Division of Specialized Support Services

LaTonya Williams to director in the Department of Inclusive and Specialized Learning Supports

Desiree Adams as supervisor of IT Operations and Delivery in the Department of Business Information Services

David Guzman as the community schools supervisor and

Miriam R. Plotinsky, as curriculum supervisor for English Language Arts

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine