Maryland is first in the nation to give full principal certification status for a program to quickly develop leadership in Baltimore schools.
More than half the principals are at or near retirement age, according to officials.
State superintendent of schools Nancy Grasmick announced certification Monday at a news conference in Fort Worthington Elementary School. “Granting New Leaders for New Schools full certification status makes Maryland the first state in the nation” to do so, she said.
The program received a boost from a $540,000 Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation grant that will be matched by national sponsors.
Foundation trustee Donn Weinberg, citing the proven effectiveness of Baltimore?s program, said, “when it comes to education, cost should not be an object as long as it is effective.”
The city is one of six selected for the program in national competition. Ten principals or assistant principals are now in schools. Sixteen more, selected from 150, are in the program.
Fort Worthington Principal Shaylin Todd, who wasin the first group, told about 50 gathered for the announcement Monday that her 445 students in grades one to five are “well on the way to outstanding academic achievement.”
According to Peter Kannam, Baltimore New Leaders executive director, about half in the program already are in city schools, the remainder come from other districts, universities, private companies and nonprofit organizations.
The Baltimore program began in February 2005. According to Grasmick staff member William Reinhard, traditional principal certification in Maryland can take many years. Under this six-week summer training and yearlong residency alongside a mentor principal, participants can gain certification in one year.
The superintendent pointed out that granting certification is not something the state does lightly. The department?s Certification and Accreditation Branch studied Baltimore?s New Leaders program for 20 months. The goal is to have at least 90 percent of students proficient in core academic subjects and 90 percent graduation rates for 20,000 students in 40 NLNS schools. Baltimore has about 86,000 students in 197 public schools.
In addition to Todd, the first group to complete the program are: Sean Conley, Hayes Elementary; Sofia Glasson, Arlington Elementary; Loren McCaskill, Coleman Elementary; Cassandra Millette, Potomac Middle; Ivor Mitchell, ACCE Academy; Sheilah Myers, Guildord Elementary/Middle; Tammie Neilson, Canton Middle; Kathleen O?Hanlon, Midtown Academy; and Wanda Young, Northeast Middle.
