Southern Middle School Principal Kelly McVey was recently named the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).
McVey has served students as a teacher and administrator for 18 years, according to an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) news release. She learned of her award when Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell and other school system leaders made a surprise appearance at the Lothian school in March.
The award recognizes a leader who is “engag[ed] in actions that positively impact all students and their schools,” according to the news release.
MASSP assessed principals based on their work in 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,” the release states.
“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 says in the AACPS announcement. “I am grateful for this recognition, knowing that so many exceptional principals across our state are making a difference in their communities.”
McVey is a principal whom “any parent would love for their child to have and is enormously deserving of this award,” Dr. Bedell says.
Southern Middle school has earned three stars on every Maryland Report Card since McVey became the principal in the fall of 2021. The school was also named a 2024 Wellness School of Distinction.
McVey will now participate in the National Principal of the Year program. The national winner will be announced in July.
