Dr. Marc J. Cohen

With an expertise in education and transformational leadership, Dr. Marc J. Cohen is an evidence-based, data-driven practitioner who promotes equitable and culturally responsive experiences, empowers staff, cultivates leadership skills in others, and creates conditions that build personal agency.  Dr. Cohen earned his Bachelor's Degree in English, Secondary Education from Towson State University, his Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Western Maryland College, and his Education Doctorate Degree in Education Leadership from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.  Dr. Cohen’s dissertation was centered on identifying the common leadership traits of principals in high-performing, high poverty schools.  

In 2009, Dr. Cohen was recognized with the Outstanding Young Educator Award, by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), a global education organization focused on empowering educators to advance and elevate learning to meet the needs of all students—equitably and wholly. Since then, Dr. Cohen has provided leadership development in areas including: School Culture and Professional Capital; Equitable Leadership; Advocacy in Action; Strategic Planning; and Effective Supervision and Evaluation of Personnel. He has also served as an educator advocate, testifying before the Maryland State Board of Education, the United States Democratic Caucus, and United States Department of Education, National Policy Development & Education Advocacy Group.

Dr. Cohen started his career as a high school English/Language Arts teacher in Maryland.  Since then, Dr. Cohen has served as an Assistant Principal, Director of Alternative Programs, Middle School Principal, and High School Principal.  Beyond the schoolhouse, Dr. Cohen has trained scores of future school leaders as a professor in the Educational Leadership program at McDaniel College for the last fifteen years.  In 2023, Dr. Cohen retired from his role as a principal.  He now proudly serves as an Instruction and Leadership Coach for the Center for Model Schools, a division of HMH.  In this role, Dr. Cohen supports the work of teachers and school/system leaders in the areas of vision and strategy, teaching and learning, and culture.

Dr. Cohen is the proud husband to Amy, and the proud father to Jared and Jenna. Amy is a licensed certified professional counselor in private practice in Central Maryland. Jared is a recent graduate of Indiana University, now serving as a government-sector advisory consultant for a large firm near Washington, D. C. Jenna is a sophomore Business Management student at James Madison University.