Schools

Riverdale's New Principal Wants to Foster Literacy, Life Learning

Cheryl Hughes comes to Riverdale Elementary with 14 years of experience in Prince George's County Public Schools.

With 14 years in Prince George’s County Public Schools, Cheryl Hughes has worked as a teacher, vice principal and principal, but always has identified as an educator with a passion for helping children.

Hughes comes to Riverdale Elementary, after three years as the principal at Yorktown Elementary in Bowie.

“I was always driven by working with children,” she said. “I thought (teaching) was where I was going to be many years, but as opportunities came my way I took them.”

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Since taking her new role, Hughes has met with the staff and with the executive board of the PTO.

“Great things are happening at Riverdale,” she said, noting the relationships between the school and the community.

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Her major goal is to help foster literacy in school and not just from reading books, but across all content, so these students can function better in society.

“Students should be familiar with all sorts of texts like understanding how to read documents and contracts,” Hughes said, “anything that will enhance life-learning.”

Her method of leading is to be a part of the team.

“I choose to be hands-on with students and staff in a collaborative environment,” she added.

Although she can speak some Spanish, she is not fluent, but Hughes said the school will have a parent liason fluent in Spanish.

As for the school’s Maryland School Assessment scores, she said although the school didn’t make its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), there was still a lot of growth.

“I want to focus on what is working and continue to enhance those things so we can move in an upward trend.

As for her last school, Yorktown Elementary made their AYP in 2010, but not in 2011.

In addition to the new principal, Riverdale Elementary will welcome a new vice principal Rashideh Joi Hollis to the school this year.

“I hope to work together to have a positive impact on student achievement not just (at Riverdale Elementary) but in life,” Hughes said.

Short Bio:

  • Residence: Lives in Prince George's County
  • Family: Married, with one daughter
  • Hobby: Interior Design
  • Favorite Book: My favorite book to read to students is, "OH, the Places You'll Go," by Dr. Seuss, due to its underlying message.  The book sends a message that what you achieve in life is dependent upon what you believe, as well as, the effort you are willing to put in.
  • Education: She has bachelor’s degrees in psychology, business management and education from the State University of New York, Albany and a master’s in educational administration from Trinity University.


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