MARYLAND STATE SUPERINTENDENT FORUM Thursday, January 7, 2021 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

 The Maryland State Board of Education has launched a national search for the next State Superintendent of Schools. They are soliciting input to assist in the search process.

MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

STATE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

VIRTUAL COMMUNITY FORUMS

The Maryland State Board of Education (State Board) has scheduled virtual community forums to gather public input regarding the next State Superintendent. Working with search firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates the State Board of Education is seeking public input to help identify a leadership profile and characteristics necessary to help lead the State’s education system.

A copy of the guidelines and procedures for the public comments can be found here.

The Board of Education and Greenwood/Asher have also provided an online survey to receive feedback. The survey will take no longer than fifteen minutes to complete. Click here to complete the survey.

The forums will be facilitated by Greenwood/Asher & Associates virtually via Zoom on:

DAY 3 - MARYLAND STATE SUPERINTENDENT FORUM

• Thursday, January 7, 2021
• 6:00 PM  7:30 PM

If you would like to make public comments for Day 3 please register here.

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Maryland school superintendent Salmon faulted for poor leadership, communication

Maryland School Superintendent Karen Salmon is under fire from education advocates who say she has failed to provide strong leadership during a health crisis that is fundamentally redefining how public schools work.

These critics say that at a time when local school leaders have been dealing with a spate of issues stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the state should have laid out detailed requirements for them to meet, allowing some local flexibility but not leaving every decision to individual districts...

...Salmon, who as state superintendent leads the department, declined to be interviewed for this article.

Traditionally, Maryland has been known for having strong, independent state school superintendents who can act despite the political whims of governors and legislators. Unlike other states where the school superintendent is appointed by the governor, Maryland’s is appointed by the state school board. The board is appointed by the governor, but it can take years before a governor can appoint enough members to control the board...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-salmon-state-education-leadership-20200729-yqymlywlvzdo5gnxq32lwairjm-story.html

MD State Superintendent Karen Salmon Announces Closure of Schools for 2019/20 and says Full Return of Student Body would be Part of Stage 3.

Stage 2 of Maryland Recovery Plan may involve bringing back small or targeted groups of students or alternating days of instruction. 



Governor Hogan's 3 Stage Roadmap to Recovery:

https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MD_Strong.pdf

Page 28 of Roadmap to Recovery

Ashburton Teacher has MD Certificate on "Hold". MD will Only Disclose if Asked.

TEACHER CHARGED WITH CHILD PORN HAS CERTIFICATION ‘ON HOLD’

The Ashburton Elementary School teacher who was charged with 10 counts of child pornography this week has a “hold” on his teacher certification, a state official said.

Daemon Alan Dartouzos, 54, of Germantown remains technically active, but the official said that the Maryland State Department of Education would inform any school system trying to hire him of his legal status, the official said...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/teacher-charged-with-child-porn-has-certification-on-hold/

Breaking: MSDE Confirms MCPS Teacher John Vigna's Teaching License was Not Revoked Because He Voluntarily Surrendered It @MdPublicSchools @MarylandSCCAN @paulpinsky @ericluedtke @clarencelammd

As we reported on February 15, 2019, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) did not revoke MCPS teacher John Vigna's teaching license even though State Regulations call for the license of a teacher after notice of an allegation of child sexual abuse to be revoked.

On Twitter, we asked MSDE for an explanation of why John Vigna's teaching license was not revoked.  MSDE responded that John Vigna "voluntarily surrendered" his license. 

The Maryland Regulations do not state that a "voluntary surrender" can bypass the mandatory revocation of a teaching license. 

We have again asked MSDE for an explanation of why John Vigna's name is not listed on their public list of teachers who have had their licenses revoked. 

Breaking: MD State Superintendent Did Not Revoke MCPS Teacher John Vigna's License as Required in COMAR

The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) states that if a teacher is convicted of a crime of child abuse or resigns after an allegation of child sexual abuse that teacher's license to teach shall be revoked.  

The Maryland State Superintendent is well aware of this Regulation as she wrote about it in a May 23, 2017, memorandum.

On June 9, 2017, Former MCPS elementary school teacher John Vigna was convicted of four counts of sex abuse of a minor and five counts of third-degree sex offense.

As of today, John Vigna's license to teach in Maryland has still not been revoked.

That means that his name has not been reported to the National Database for the reporting and dissemination of the names of teachers who have had their licenses revoked.   It also means that if John Vigna were to have his sentence reduced or completed he would be released from prison without notification to other jurisdictions that his Maryland teaching license should have been revoked.  

What's going on Maryland State Department of Education Superintendent Karen Salmon? 

How many other Maryland teachers have not had their licenses automatically revoked as required by COMAR?  Where are those teachers today?  Are they in classrooms or activities where they have direct contact with children?

MSDE Superintendent Karen S... by on Scribd