News Release: PGCPS Announces Formation of Superintendent’s Naming Commission, Launch of New School Naming Committees

May 21, 2026
For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) announces the establishment of the Superintendent’s Naming Commission, a diverse body of community leaders tasked with ensuring that school names, facilities, and monuments authentically reflect the values and rich history of Prince George’s County.

In accordance with Administrative Procedure 3500, the district has appointed five county residents to the Commission who bring a wealth of experience in education, governance, community advocacy, and cultural
preservation to this vital work.

Meet the Naming Commission Members

Having received nearly 160 applicants, the following residents have been selected to serve, reflecting the demographics and diversity of the PGCPS student population:

• Dr. Darin Simmons, Jr.: A consultant and 4x Chief Officer with experience in school renaming and stakeholder engagement.
• Tyree Scott: A U.S. Navy veteran and cybersecurity leader with more than 30 years of public service and a focus on integrity-driven decision-making.
• Tabitha Brackens: A professional in arts and culture with the U.S.Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, specializing in representation and identity.
• Destinee Stewart: An educator and operations leader with 15 years of experience in regional community-building and equity-centered systems.
• Jerome Lewis: A service-connected disabled veteran, nonprofit Executive Director, and PhD candidate focused on mentorship and leadership studies.

Upcoming Work: Forming School-Level Naming Committees

With the Commission established, PGCPS is now initiating the formation of Naming Committees for three significant school projects, opening School Year 2027-28. These committees will be responsible for proposing three potential names for evaluation by the Commission.

The projects include:

• New Fairwood Area Elementary School (Currently Woodmore Elementary)
• New Robert Frost K-8 Academy (Consolidating Carrollton ES, Robert Frost ES, and Charles Carroll MS)
• New Brandywine Area K-8 Academy (Consolidating Brandywine ES and Gwynn Park MS)

For the New Robert Frost and New Brandywine academies, PGCPS is committed to ensuring equal representation from each impacted school community.

Looking Ahead

Per Administrative Procedure 3500, the Naming Committees will consist of parents, students, staff, and local residents that will convene in early Fall 2026 to begin their work.

Proposed names will be vetted by the Naming Commission using a scoring rubric developed by the Prince George’s County Council Responsible Legacy Task Force to ensure names meet standards of equity, excellence, and community alignment.

District and school leaders are currently identifying participants for the Naming Committees. Interested parents, students, and community members from the impacted school areas are encouraged to reach out to their respective school principals to express interest in participating before the end of the current school year.

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