When the principal of Martin Luther King Middle School in Montgomery County came to Westminster to address the county's chapter of the NAACP, it wasn't a long or unfamiliar trip — after all, Marc Cohen lives in Eldersburg and previously worked at Westminster High School.

But his career destination, one he hopes to help students achieve as well, may be considered by some a lofty journey: equality in academic achievement for all students, regardless of race.

Cohen, the 2009 winner of the national Outstanding Young Educator Award, spoke at the Carroll County NAACP Branch 7014 annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast on Jan. 16, and used his school's overriding themes -- "Responsibility, Respect, Integrity" -- as a challenge to Carroll County residents to do their part to provide education, encouragement, vision and hope to today's students.

"As a school and as a community, we still have a lot to do," he said.

In his tenure as MLK Jr. Middle School principal, Cohen has guided the school toward raising its minority achievement levels across the curriculum.

In his school in Germantown, he said, some students and parents come in doubting the commitment to equal achievement, but he said, "If they don't believe, we ask them to make-believe, and if they make-believe, in a short time, they come to believe."

Cohen said it's crucial to remove the sense of "racial predictability" when it comes to academic achievement, and move toward a goal of eliminating race as a factor when it comes to student expectations.

Not doing so, he said, leads to students and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and unemployable.

"Do we see that here in Carroll County?" he asked. "Absolutely."

He said parents, educators and even employers can adopt practices that advance that cause, including:

* Treating young people with respect, asking advice and listening to their opinions;

* Not withholding honest advice and opinions from young people;

* Encouraging employees with children to take parenting seriously, and support them when they need time for child activities;

* Looking for ways to help children see possibilities and positive images of their future selves; and

* Promoting a love of learning.

Cohen led small groups in discussing issues related to equality and opportunity for children, and admitted that in reality, he knows it might more than a few years to change the world.

"We can't make 100 percent of people do anything, but we can have an impact, and make that gap significantly smaller," he said. "The progress we make will make the worlds a better place."

Marshall and outreach

The breakfast also included a presentation by county students -- Seth Krolus, a student at Loyola Blakefield High School, Jasmine Rock of Sykesville Middle School and James Joyner of Frostburg State University -- on the life, times and legacy of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Also at the breakfast, NAACP Chapter President Jean Lewis said the chapter had committed to make a donation to the people of Haiti through an NAACP campaign.

Persons interested in learning about the NAACP chapter may call 410-751-7667 or go to www.carrollnaacp.org.

(Note: Student James Joyner named above is no relation to the author of this story.)

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