Merl Grove Past Student Association USA
North Eastern American Chapter
MGHS PSA NEAC
PO Box 3697
Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3697
alumni
Current Programs
The Fourth Annual Gala of Merl Grove High School PSA
| Jamaica ’s Ambassador to the United States Anthony Johnson at center posed for a photograph with awardees at the Merl Grove High School Past Students Association North East American Chapter. From left to right Denise McCalla-Creary, Maureen Samuels, Faye Williams, Andrea McDonald Black; President of the Association, Paulette Parkinson,head of the English department, and Amy Allen Principal of Merl Grove High School . The awards presentation took place at the Association’s 4th annual awards and fundraising banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland on Saturday July 5. | |
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Anthony Johnson has emphasized access to quality education as an effective investment and a guarantee for future economic and social advancement when he was addressing the 4th Annual Gala of the Merl Grove High School Past Student’s Association North American Chapter at the Hilton Hotel, in Green Belt, Maryland on Saturday July 5. Ambassador Johnson said, “all effort should be made to ensure that our Jamaican children have access to education from the basic school level to the secondary level.” He also pointed out that “education is a major priority area for the government of Jamaicaand the greater level of support is been given to the area particularly at the secondary level.” Ambassador Johnson then commended the founders of Merl Grove High Schoolfor giving students a chance from the lower income bracket to gain higher education. “In Jamaicathere is a large amount of talent among our young people which was always there, but did not have the opportunity to go further. The founders of Merl Grove started the school to give those students an opportunity to gain a higher education and we must applaud Merl Grove for taking that stand” Ambassador Johnson said. The first 4 awardees will be graduating Successfully this October. Derrick A. Scott Washington DC
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Past Students in attendance singing the School Song
Honorable Anthony Johnson Flanked by Members of
The Executives of the NEAC
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Michelle Pranger was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. She attended Merl Grove High School from 1987-1992. After which, she relocated with her family to Queens, New York. There, she attended Queens College and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Thirsting for more knowledge and knowing the importance of education, she pursued a Masters of Science degree in Education at Hofstra University while working full-time and raising a daughter with her husband.
When asked why she became a teacher, Mrs. Pranger said, “My educational journey has been influenced by the teachings of some great educators who dedicated their lives to the enlightenment of young minds. The prospect of illuminating young minds, my philosophy of education, and interest of scholarship are some of the reasons I pursued a career in an education. Throughout my own experience as a student and a teacher, I have realized how important a teacher is in a child’s life; they are, without question, a role model. To be an excellent educator, one must be able to take a student at whatever level and nurture them so they may achieve their individual best.”
Mrs. Pranger is the author of “A Child’s Voice” available in early Summer 2008. The novel is about a young girl who was raised in the country by her grandparents from the time she was three weeks old until she was eight years old. While living in the country with her extended family she experienced love and was free to be a child to explore and to grow. A telegram came, and reluctantly, this girl had to go and live with her parents far away from the people who raised her. For years, there was no escape from her parents. She questioned God and Life. Positive, responsible adults such as her grandmother who loved, believed, and respected her, fueled her passion to be normal to achieve and overcome the traumatic struggles that had nearly destroyed her inner soul.
When asked why she wrote this novel, Mrs. Pranger said, “The passion and desperation to write this book was as important as breathing; it could not be ignored. I was led to write this book for all the children and adults who do not and did not have a voice.”
Michelle is now a middle school teacher and motivational speaker who resides in Connecticut with her husband and three children
Watch this site for news of the Concert slated for Virginia Beach VA
MGHS PSA NEAC
PO Box 3697
Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3697
alumni
