March 3, 2011
More than 10 years ago Langley Park, an area in the northwestern portion of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was known as an international community. However now, like many other communities in P.G County there has been a significant growth within the Hispanic and Latino populations. According to the 2010 census numbers, the Hispanic and Latino population in Prince George's County more than doubled to roughly 130,000 residents, who now account for 15 percent of the county's 863,000 population. This fact is most obvious within Langley Park McCormick Elementary School, located in Prince George’s County, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade in the Prince George's County Public School District.
Past to the Present
In the 1980’s Langley Park McCormick Elementary consisted of a student body whose members spoke 17 languages and represented 33 countries. The foreign born students made up half of the total 611 student population. They originated from Central and South American nations, with many of the others coming from Jamaica, India, Cambodia, Haiti and Nigeria. Today, Langley Park McCormick Elementary is “85 percent Hispanic, 1 percent Asian, and 14 percent African American,” says Principal Amy Stout of Langley Park McCormick Elementary. Its foreign student body comes from various countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and many different African countries. Separated by barriers of language and customs, “Everything we send home is in English and Spanish…most of our Latino students come from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala,” said Principal Stout. She continued by saying, “It’s a challenge…but my students and families know that I am always there for them…I am the bridge for them,” said Stout.
Principal Stout has prided herself in the development and appearance of the school, so that the students can feel their school is a place of safety and love. When asked how the school’s appearance before recent upgrades she replied passionately, “I was disgusted about the appearance of the building…no windows, roaches, mice…the building hadn’t been painted in years…no wow factor,” she ended. However, with their new edition, the library donated by Capitol One Bank, Principal Stout smiled and said, “The library was alike a breath of fresh air for the kids…ensures pride in and ownership of their school.”
Progress Equals Success
Principal Stout not only assisted in the betterment of the appearance of the school, but also in its academics as well. There was also a need for a principal with a strong background in elementary and middle school education, and Principal Stout was the lady to help. “I have a lot of background in raising test scores and data,” said Stout. This is her 3rd year at Langley Park and her efforts have brought the students a long way. The MSA reading test scores have increased by 9.8 percent from 2007 to 2010 for grades 3rd to 6th grades. The math scores have also increased from 2007 to 2010 of about 21.4 percent.
Although Principal Stout and the rest of the staff and faculty of Langley Park elementary experience different trials everyday Ms. Stout ensures that, “there hasn’t been one thing regardless of the challenge that I have said no to…I’m a fighter for my kids and my staff, that’s my purpose and its hard and you struggle…There are days I go home crying…But I try to make things better and do more and more.” Langley Park McCormick Elementary is surely ready to confront the challenges of the future and continue on the right path for the future.
Principal Stout ended and said, “I could talk bubble gum, and candy canes, and cupcakes, but is that what you experience everyday…you have to be real.” And what is real for Langley Park McCormick Elementary is its love and pride in each other and especially in their Principal, “My kids know that I absolutely love them.”
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