The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) community is mourning the loss of Judith Docca, a longtime school board member and former principal who was honored with a “Living Legend” award during the county’s Juneteenth celebrations this year.
Docca, 85, who died Friday, worked for MCPS for 38 years, first as a French and Spanish teacher and then later as a human relations coordinator, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School and principal at Argyle Middle School, both in Silver Spring. She served on the Montgomery County Board of Education representing District 1 for four terms, from 2006-2022. She retired and did not file to run for re-election in 2022. The media center at Argyle Middle School was named for Docca in 2023.
“The loss of her deep commitment and passion for students as well as her advocacy for education and civil rights will be felt in the Montgomery County community for years to come,” the school board said in an email statement Monday afternoon.
Docca also was active in the Montgomery County NAACP, the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the county’s Head Start program. She was named to the County Human and Civil Rights Hall of Fame and was appointed to the Montgomery College Board of Trustees by Gov. Wes Moore.
She received the county’s annual “Living Legend” award on June 14. According to the county website, the award is given to African American individuals who are 75 or older and
“have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness.”
School board member Julie Yang, who is serving her first term representing District 3, said Monday in an interview that Docca had been a mentor to her and inspired her to run for office.
“Judy is the most loving person that I know… . Nowadays, we talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, and she not only says that, she practices it,” Yang said. “I just can’t bear to use past tense to describe her.”
Yang said she was inspired by how Docca was always active in the community, often attending school events, and was in tune with the latest in education policy.
“She always shows up. And I think that sends a great message that she cares,” Yang said.
County Executive Marc Elrich, who was an MCPS teacher for 17 years before running for public office, offered condolences in a statement Monday afternoon.
“As a former teacher, it was a great honor to get to know Dr. Docca. Her warmth, compassion and unwavering commitment to education were evident in every interaction,” Elrich said. “I saw her influence spread through generations of educators and community leaders. Montgomery County owes a great deal to her advocacy and giving spirit.”
The Montgomery County Council also issued a statement Monday afternoon.
“Dr. Docca’s contributions have helped shape the educational landscape, and her absence is profoundly felt by our entire community,” the statement said. “She is remembered with admiration and appreciation for her advocacy, thoughtful leadership, and lifelong commitment to improving the lives of others. May Dr. Docca’s memory be a blessing to all who knew her.”
In 2015, Docca played a role in the departure of then-MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr before the end of his four-year term when she joined three other board members who signaled they would not vote to renew his contract for second term, but did not publicly explain why.
The decision was a controversial move that led to Starr’s early departure and one that the school board was unwilling—and perhaps unable—to explain to the community at large, according to a 2016 Bethesda Magazine story on the school board.
Docca had been initially prepared to support Starr but decided at the 11th hour to deny him the board majority he needed for renewal. Docca had become increasingly doubtful of Starr’s ability to deal with the achievement gap, according to the magazine.
The move triggered puzzlement, concern and criticism from interested parties both inside and outside the county, sentiments that only intensified with a largely bungled effort to hire a successor to Starr in May 2015. Jack R. Smith, most recently Maryland’s interim state superintendent of schools, was appointed in early 2016 and led MCPS until he retired June 1, 2021.
Docca’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 22 at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Laytonsville.
Bethesda Magazine contributing editor Louis Peck contributed to this story.