UPES Alum Named County Teacher of the Month

Monica Welch — an instructor at High Point High School and alum of — has been named teacher of the month by Prince George's County Public Schools.

Welch, an educator for 11 years, teaches English and journalism and sponsors three different publications HPHS. She has also served as a mentor teacher and a volleyball coach.

"Ms. Welch is an extremely innovative teacher who motivates her students to reach their highest potential. … Her innovative, dynamic instructional methods foster in her students a thirst for knowledge and an enduring love for both language and literature," Principal Sandra Jimenez said in statement.

Welch attributed her "passion for helping students recognize and utilize their talents" to the teachers she had as a student at UPES, Hyattsville Middle School, and HPHS. 

"Those teachers taught me to be an independent thinker and they gave me the skills that would enable me to accomplish any goal I set for myself," Welch added. "A teacher has the ability to show students that they can set high standards and expectations for themselves, and a teacher can give them the academic and critical thinking skills to achieve those goals. … That is why I love teaching."