Three Anne Arundel County Public Schools educators received prestigious state-level honors from the Maryland Music Educators Association in February 2026 for their outstanding support of music education programs in Maryland’s public schools.
Severn Run High School Principal Rachel Kennelly and Broadneck Elementary School Principal Jamie Miller each earned the MMEA Outstanding School Administrator award, recognizing non-arts administrators who champion music and arts in their buildings. Paul Dembowski, business manager for the Apex Arts magnet program, received the James and Rosemary Walters Award for Service, honoring significant contributions to the association and music education.
The awards highlight the essential administrative and logistical backbone that elevates music programs beyond student performances, fostering engagement, achievement, and positive school environments.
Kennelly serves as the inaugural principal of Severn Run High School in Severn, which opened in 2025. She previously held principal and assistant principal roles at Broadneck High School and started her career as a dance teacher at Old Mill High School in Millersville. Kennelly advocates passionately for arts education in all forms, viewing it as vital to student success, involvement, and school culture.
Miller has led Broadneck Elementary School in Annapolis since 2022, after serving as principal at Solley Elementary School. With over 20 years in education, she is also a performer and choreographer. Miller enthusiastically backs Broadneck’s award-winning music program, now involving more than 200 students in its activities.
Dembowski manages business operations at Studio 39 for the Apex Arts magnet program in Anne Arundel County. Beyond AACPS, he holds leadership and logistical positions with MMEA and directs the Anne Arundel Community College Concert Band and the Benfield Brass Band. He brings 35 years of experience as a band director and arts administrator in Virginia and Maryland.
The MMEA will present the awards during its annual state conference February 20-22, 2026, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore. The event serves as Maryland’s largest gathering for music educators, featuring professional development, performances, and recognition ceremonies to advance teaching and community engagement through music.
These recognitions from the Maryland Music Educators Association underscore the collaborative efforts required to sustain strong arts programs in public education. Administrators like Kennelly and Miller provide the leadership that enables robust participation, while contributors like Dembowski ensure operational and organizational strength at regional and state levels. Their work supports thousands of students in Anne Arundel County and contributes to broader music education advocacy in Maryland.
