State Superintendent Search

Baltimore Sun reporter Liz Bowie is following the story of the state superintendent search, as current state superintendent Nancy Grasmick will step down on June 30th.  The state superintendent is appointed by the state Board of Education.  All 12 members of the state Board of Education have been appointed by Governor O'Malley (D).

Here are excerpts:

A number of observers say that it would be best if the next superintendent is from Maryland but that it is more important to have a great leader who is a quick study. They also listed a set of priorities that include focusing on reducing the achievement gap of students of color and low-income students, figuring out ways to be innovative within the constraints of tight economic times, working collaboratively with the teachers unions and higher education, and making science and math a priority.


Robert C. Embry, president of the Abell Foundation, said the state board will have to first decide what their agenda will be for the coming years. It may be, he said, that Marylanders are happy with the status quo and will not want to embrace a more radical agenda that might lead to a change in the often-criticized charter school law or the practice of getting rid of teachers based on seniority. "I don't know what the present school board has as its priorities. There are a lot of very controversial issues nationally," he said.


But more importantly, experts also said, the state school board should focus on the next superintendent's personality and background as much as the agenda.

and:

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller would like to see that in the next superintendent. "We need someone with a great deal of teaching experience and supervisory experience," he said, adding that the next leader also must place children first and draw authority from the assumption that student needs are behind all of their actions.

"She transcended politics. Her loyalty was always to the students," Miller said of Grasmick.

To read the full story, go here.

Baltimore Sun: State Stops Practice of allowing Teachers to review MSA booklets before the test

The Baltimore Sun printed an interesting article on its front page this past Thursday.  Apparently the state 'quietly' "...stopped its longstanding practice of allowing teachers to review test booklets up to two weeks before its annual reading and math examinations were given."  Thanks to reporter Liz Bowie and thanks to the Baltimore Sun for its continued series of articles about public education in the area.