Education Commission

Established by the Mayor and Council with Ordinance 06-22, the Education Commission supports the best interests of all students living in Rockville. Its mission is to foster collaboration among the county’s Board of Education, Montgomery County Public Schools, private and nonprofit schools in Rockville, Montgomery College’s Rockville campus, parent-teacher associations, private and nonprofit school boards, homeschool communities, and early childcare providers in the Rockville community.

The commission has identified three primary focus areas as priorities:

Keeping Rockville schools safe and secure.
Improving teacher retention and recruitment.
Strengthening partnerships between businesses and schools.

Learn more about the commission by reading its 2025 annual report.

Members

The Education Commission consists of 11 members appointed by the Mayor and Council, representing Rockville’s demographic and educational diversity, as well as its neighborhoods. Seven members are parents or guardians, with four representing public education and three representing private, parochial, and homeschool education. Three members are education professionals. These 10 members serve two-year terms. An additional member is a student who serves a one-year term.

Member	Term Expiration
Lisa Kehayias-Farhi, Education Professional (Co-Chair)	April 1, 2027
Edward Reed, Education Professional (Co-Chair)	April 1, 2026
Tanya Aguilar, Representative of Public School	May 1, 2027
Michael Berman, Education Professional	April 1, 2027
Sarah Clark, Representative of Private School	April 1, 2027
Xian Lu, Representative of Private School	Dec. 1, 2027
Jacqueline Renfrow, Representative of Public School	April 1, 2027
Shauntae Spaugh, Representative of Public School	May 1, 2027
Nicole Stone, Representative of Private School	May 1, 2027
Wendy Whitaker, Representative of Public School	April 1, 2026
Chelsea Zhu, Youth Representative	Oct. 1, 2026

Educational Partnership Opportunities

The Business and Community Partnerships Subcommittee of the Education Commission has launched an initiative to connect local businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations with Rockville-area schools to support students and programs.

This initiative serves as a link between parent-teacher organizations and local groups eager to meet community needs. Contributions may include school supplies, one-time event sponsorships, fundraising partnerships, internship programs, after-school activities, and more.

Below is a list of needs identified by Rockville-area schools. PTA members and school representatives seeking resources, as well as local organizations interested in providing them, should email educationcommission@rockvillemd.gov to participate.

Resources Needed for Rockville-Area Schools

Resource	Description	Contact
Backpacks and Food Supplies	Backpacks and food supplies for about 30 students who come to the U.S. mid-year and start at the school.	Meadow Hall Elementary School Jessica Jackson Community Liaison Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org
Food Pantry	Shelf-stable items that can be replenished in intervals to help families at the school.	Meadow Hall Elementary School Jessica Jackson Community Liaison Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org
Coffee, Breakfast, Snacks, and Catering	English classes for parents meet twice weekly and need partners to supply snacks for kids and adults during these sessions.	Meadow Hall Elementary School Jessica Jackson Community Liaison Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org
Items and Support for Teachers	Items needed for student supply kits: crayons (little hands and regular size), pencils, colored pencils, markers, scissors, glue, binder, folder, pencil pouch, insulated water bottle, and headphones with a mic for Chromebook.	Twinbrook Elementary School Tanya Aguilar Community Liaison Tanya_Y_Aguilar@mcpsmd.org
Items and Support for Classrooms	Items needed: 20 classroom rugs, and teacher supplies: wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer, dry-erase markers, stickers, flair pens, sharpies, and bulletin board borders.	Twinbrook Elementary School Tanya Aguilar Community Liaison Tanya_Y_Aguilar@mcpsmd.org
Service Learning Partners	Montgomery College is looking for nonprofits, schools, and government organizations through which to arrange service-learning opportunities for students. Service learning is a teaching-and-learning methodology which fosters civic responsibility and applies classroom learning through meaningful service to the community.	Montgomery College – Rockville Campus Libby McClayton Service Learning Coordinator libby.mcclayton@montgomerycollege.edu 240-567-4951
Speakers/Presenters	The Impact MC Program at Montgomery College often looks for guest speakers for a variety of purposes, including leadership development and career workshops.	Montgomery College – Rockville Campus Libby McClayton Service Learning Coordinator libby.mcclayton@montgomerycollege.edu 240-567-4951