Vilma Najera receives the “Hispanic Educator The Year” award.

Vilma C. Najera, principal of Watkins Mill High School since the 2023-2024 school year, has been named Hispanic Educator of the Year by the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCCMC). She was honored at the Hispanic Leadership Awards Gala on Friday, October 11th.

According to HCCMC, “Najera is the principal of Watkins Mill High School and a passionate advocate for equity in education.” As the county coordinator for the Minority Scholars Program (MSP) and co-founder of PODER Educators in MCPS, she is dedicated to empowering students and supporting Latino educators. A proud graduate of MCPS and the daughter of Salvadoran and Guatemalan parents, Vilma began her career as a Spanish teacher, where she founded the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) and coordinated the annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition.

Working with Michael Williams, she founded an MSP department at Clarksburg High School in 2009, which has since expanded to all 25 high schools, 25 middle schools and nearly 10 elementary schools in Montgomery County, promoting student leadership and advocacy. She was named Educator of the Year by the Montgomery County Executive Council in 2016, has presented at national conferences and participated in panels promoting cultural change.

Prior to her current role, Vilma served as assistant principal and principal at Quince Orchard High School and served as principal at Brown Station Elementary School. Driven by her commitment to justice and leadership through love, she is committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed while honoring their cultural heritage and advocating for equity in education.”