MASSP MEMO

Dear MASSP Members,

It gives me great pleasure to share that MASSP has been very successful this year! As Executive Director, I enjoyed…

• Experiencing the first National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Leadership Summit with several members of the MASSP Executive Board.
• Planning for and attending the Annual Fall Leadership Conference in Towson during which James Allrich (Argyle Middle School) was recognized as the 2023 MASSP Principal of the Year.
• Hosting the Assistant Principals' Conference and working with Erin O'Hara (Harford County) who co-chaired the conference.
• Presenting Ricardo Hernandez (Paint Branch H.S.) with the 2024 MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year Award.
• Working with Senator Ben Kramer on Senate Bill 394 to elect a principal to the Maryland State Board of Education and testifying in the Maryland Senate
• Advocating and collaborating with others on House Bill 770 which addresses assistant principals "teaching" 20% of their time; the wording was changed.
• Talking or meeting with state legislators about School Resource Officers and SB 394
• Collaborating with Mary Pat Fannon from the Public-School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM) and John Woolums from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) and discussing pending legislation that impacts public schools.
• Attending the National Association of Secondary & Elementary School Principals (NAESP/NASSP) Advocacy Conference to learn about and discuss federal legislation that directly impacts schools.
• Meeting with Maryland’s senators, representatives, and some staffers to advocate for federal legislation that positively impacts schools, students, and teachers.
• Collaborating with Terry Ball (MAESP) and Dr. Jeanine Hildreth, Tiara Booker-Dwyer, Brian Eyre, Susan Holiday, and Jenny Bitzer, from the Region 4 Comprehensive Center (R4CC). The Next Level Maryland Leadership Academy quickly evolved into an outstanding program for 60 aspiring assistant principals and principals.
• Hearing that Stephanie Farmer, the principal of Vivienne T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy was appointed, by Governor Wes Moore, to the Professional Standards of Teaching and Education Board (PSTEB)
• Appointing Tony Bevilaqua (Somerset County) and Lois McCoy (Queen Anne’s County) to two MSDE workgroups on student data privacy and teacher induction.
• Having principals from around the state of Maryland participate in the Maryland Public School Roundtable discussions hosted by MSDE and the State Board of Education.
• Increasing the number of new members joining our organization.
• Sending thank you notes and gifts to new and renewing MASSP members.
• Increasing the number of new sponsorships/partnerships for MASSP
• Updating our website and creating a section for job vacancies nationally and statewide.

If you wish to see additional information, some of the above activities deserve a bit more detail:

• At the National Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C., approximately 400 leaders converged on Capitol Hill to help shape policy and influence federal legislation. Attendees heard from leaders in the US Department of Education, members of Congress, and legislative staff to learn about proposed legislation, trends in legislation and how to share our stories to make a difference.
• To help increase and retain membership, at the suggestion of your president, Dr. Afie Mirshah-Nayar, all members received thank you cards and small gifts of appreciation for your membership.

• Notes with enclosed coasters were mailed to everyone who paid dues since August 2022.
• The APs cards went out in time for National Assistant Principals Week.
• Members who have not renewed their membership were encouraged to do so via letter or email. A small gift and thank you card will be sent when they renew.

Still to come...

• As I write this letter, I am headed to the NAESP/NASSP Executive Director's Conference where EDs will converge to discuss marketing strategies, public relations, membership, programming, finances, and much more. I will return with many ideas for next year!
• The last meeting of our fiscal year is on June 3, 2023 at which time board members and MASSP members who are in attendance will vote on the uncontested President-Elect and the 2023-2024 budget.

I wish you all a smooth final quarter and hope that staffing and hiring go well. Enjoy the various end-of-year activities and celebrate all the great things you have accomplished and that have occurred this year. Make a list, like I did; it will surprise you and feel good to see it in writing. Be well and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Dr. Addie Kaufman, Executive Director.

Please join me in congratulating Melissa Shindel, who is the principal of Glenwood Middle School in Howard County. Melissa received this surprise award at the National Advocacy Conference in April.

Copied from the NASSP website:

This winter, a group of school leaders from across the country came together to review contenders for NASSP’s Advocacy Champion of the Year. Going in, they knew this wouldn’t be easy. The awardee had to embody the mission of the organization and demonstrate an exceptional commitment to advocating on behalf of school leaders and schools. Although a number of candidates were deserving, one stood out.

After some intense discussion, it was clear that Melissa Shindel, the principal of Glenwood Middle School in Howard County, MD, and the State Coordinator for the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), would be this year’s Advocacy Champion. The announcement came last Tuesday at the first-ever National School Leaders Advocacy Conference, where 400 NASSP and NAESP school leaders gathered in the nation’s capitol to advocate for the resources their schools need and discuss education policy with members of Congress.

“Advocacy is so important because school has changed so much in the last five, 10, 15 years, and most people have not been in a school since they attended school themselves,” said Chris LeGrande, the principal of Guthrie High School in Guthrie, OK, who opened the celebration. LeGrande himself was last year’s Advocacy Champion, and next year, he’ll serve as the executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals and Oklahoma Middle Level Educator Association to elevate the collective voice of school leaders across his state in policy and public discourse.

“Unfortunately, many people think they’re experts in education purely because they attended school when they were kids,” he said. “But they have in no way, shape, or form dealt with anything like the pandemic that we’ve had to work through, struggle through, and learn through. We have to help these people come in and actually see what we’re doing on the ground.”

NASSP President Aaron Huff presented Shindel with the award and lauded her work activating her Maryland colleagues to advocate for policies that will support students and schools. “Together with other members of MASSP, she has been a leading voice for school leader priorities in Maryland’s implementation of the new Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a far-reaching plan to redesign education in their state,” Huff said.

When she accepted the award, Shindel noted the Blueprint offers wonderful opportunities for educators and students. Still, it is clear that school leaders should have been included in many of the decisions around it, she said. One of those decisions is that the Blueprint requires assistant principals to teach in the classroom for at least 20% and suggests that principals teach for 10% of the school day.

“As instructional leaders, we are teachers. It may not look like traditional teaching in a classroom, but we teach throughout the day, every day, in numerous ways. Given the complex nature of an administrator’s job, it will be challenging to implement the Blueprint requirements for teaching as mandated, and remain readily available to students, staff, parents, and community members who need our assistance or immediate attention,” she said. “My MASSP colleagues and I are advocating for adjustments to the mandate by making our work visible to lawmakers, so they understand the impact this will have in our schools.”

Shindel also recognized NASSP’s role in helping to make the voices of school leaders heard. “I love NASSP; I love the collaboration, advocacy, support, and professional learning that it provides, and I want members to keep using your voices and doing the good work you’re doing because it is moving our kids and our schools forward.”

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Ricardo Hernandez, Assistant Principal at Paint Branch High School in Montgomery County.

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Ricardo Hernandez was quite surprised when the staff and students from Paint Branch High School met in the auditorium to join in the celebration of their Assistant Principal. Totally unaware that he was receiving this award, Mr. Hernandez emotionally shared his gratitude and thanked the many people, including his family, who helped him reach this pinnacle of his assistant principalship.

Mr. Hernandez recently attended the NASSP Trailblazing Leadership Conference as part of his award recognition and celebration. Additionally, Ricardo will be recognized at the 2023 NASSP Ignite Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Promoting Excellence in School Leadership Through Service in the areas of advocacy, communication, and professional development.

Follow us on Instagram: md_massp for current news and updates!

Greetings MASSP Colleagues,

As we near the end of the school year, and the end of my term as President of MASSP I would like to reflect on the work of our organization for these past two years.

As President, I am incredibly proud of the advocacy work that we've done as an organization around implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. For the past two years our voice has been at the table in many areas. Our members have provided testimony to the Maryland State Board of Education, the Accountability and Implementation Board, to Members of Congress, and to the Maryland General Assembly.

We have made great progress in helping others understand the work of assistant principals and are close to getting the language changed regarding the expectations for their role. There are many ways that our administrators provide meaningful and direct support to increase student achievement as well as address student wellbeing. Our work will help define the assistant principals' role as it directly relates to teaching students for 20% of their day which is currently written in the Blueprint. MASSP has done a lot to help refine and reimagine the way we frame our work in a way that will make sense for school leaders, school communities, and our students.

With the help of Senator Ben Kramer, we also introduced Senate Bill 394 to the Maryland General Assembly. This bill adds a principal to the Maryland State Board of Education. Although the bill was introduced this year, it did not pass; we will continue this plight to have our voice on the state school board next year. We will need your help to contact your politicians and ask them to vote affirmative on this bill. The voice of the school principal is the only missing perspective at the State Board of Education; there is currently a teacher, student and parent on the State BOE.

As a principal this year has been the most normal post-covid school year since March 2020. While we continue to see our students and communities struggle with mental health and social emotional challenges, we have moved beyond the operational impacts that we experienced previously. One of the challenges that I’m seeing this year is the tremendous increase in student use of both illegal and legal substances. Recently we have seen and learned more about the impacts of substances laced with Fentanyl, which has caused a rise in student overdoses and deaths in our young people . We know that as school leaders we take on much more than teaching and learning, in our buildings, when we address the climate and culture of our school communities. It appears that post-covid we will need to re-educate our students about the importance of protecting their wellbeing by making good choices.

The link below has great information on reasons that students experiment with drugs.

Why Teens Drink and Experiment with Drugs: Top 8 Reasons - Partnership to End Addiction (drugfree.org)

In December 2022, my school conducted a week of awareness activities around the dangers of vaping. Even without the additional threat of vapes being potentially laced with Fentanyl, vaping is extremely dangerous for our students. There is research that is starting to show damage to lungs from vaping. It may take years to see the damage of the chemicals found in vapes on our students. I’ve included the sample poster and pledge that we used at Paint Branch High School. After a week of announcements, posters, social media, and videos about the dangers of vaping we had our students take a pledge and posted the pledges around our main office.

In the next few weeks we will all be busy with testing, staffing, graduation and promotion ceremonies, and getting ready to end the school year. I encourage you to find time to share information with your students and families about the dangers of vaping.

Dr. Afie Mirshah-Nayar

Principal, Paint Branch High School

President, MASSP

Kris Hemstetter is the Principal of Kent County High School located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Before becoming a principal, she taught English Language Arts at the Middle School level. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education and Middle Level Education from Wilmington University, and a Master’s of Education in English from Salisbury University. She holds an Administrative I and II license for school leadership from the State of Maryland.

She began her teaching career at Galena Middle School in 2003. Her educational career has included paths as a Teacher of the Year, Middle School Math/Literacy Coach, District Lead Teacher, Master Teacher for the State of Maryland, PARCC Formative Assessment Review Team, PARCC Rangefinding and MSDE Common Core Work Groups for grades K-5. She has done extensive work with teachers across the state of Maryland and in her district with transitioning to the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. She has been an active member of the Maryland State Department of Education Mathematics Advisory Board and has participated in national advocacy as a Teacher Champion for the Collaborative for Student Success.

She is an executive board member of the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), a current member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and a member of the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM).

Mrs. Hemstetter currently resides in Galena, Maryland with her husband Wayne of 30 years. She has two daughters Regan and Brianne, ages 30 and 25.

As I shared in the last newsletter, the MASSP Board and MASSP members who are in attendance at the June 3rd meeting will vote to approve the 2023-2024 budget. In the next few weeks, a separate email will be sent with the 2023-2024 Draft Budget. Please review the budget prior to attending the meeting, and do not hesitate to ask clarification questions prior to or during the meeting.

This is an open meeting for membership and a great opportunity for you to learn about how our organization operates. The June 3rd meeting will be a hybrid meeting with attendees both in person and on Zoom.

MASSP has been able to remain financially stable, through COVID, as a result of the clear, demonstrated value our members experience from our virtual and in-person conferences, the professional networking opportunities made available to each of us and ongoing efforts to increase our membership. We are only as strong as our numbers allow us to be and our budget is only as stable as our dues and conference registrations allow us to be.

My 25 years as a member of MASSP have made me a better school leader. I have learned from peers, developed professional learning networks, and benefitted from the organization's advocacy efforts. In the 2023-2024 school year, I ask each of you to commit to bringing in at least one new member to MASSP, and even if that is not possible, to participating on one of our amazing leader learning opportunities. Our annual conference is once again in Ocean City, a long-time location favorite, and our assistant principals conference continues to grow in popularity, drawing in amazing speakers and high quality training opportunities.

Marc Cohen, MASSP Treasurer

Principal, Seneca Valley High School

Montgomery County

The first ever National School Leaders Advocacy Conference, hosted by both NASSP and NAESP, took place a few weeks ago from March 27-29. Over 400 leaders from around the country met for three days - learning together in workshops and small groups, in addition to hearing from a variety of speakers including Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and Representative Suzanne Bonamici. On Wednesday, we went to Capitol Hill and met with legislators and staffers from Maryland, advocating and asking Congress take action to address our concerns as they pertain to mental health, the educator and principal pipeline shortages, and funding. We also discussed concerns pertaining to portions of The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Click here to view the NAESP-NASSP Federal Legislative Agenda and check out the MASSP Twitter feed for pictures!

If you have not used your voice to advocate, I encourage you to start. If we don’t tell our stories, who will? If we don’t speak up about the needs of our students, schools, communities, and school leaders - others will make decisions for us without really understanding our needs. Advocacy can take place at the local, state and federal level, and I encourage you to start wherever you are most comfortable. If you want to experience advocacy and the federal level - which is incredibly empowering and impactful - I encourage you to join us next year. The 2024 National School Leaders Advocacy Conference is scheduled for March 11-13. Save the date!

Finally, NASSP currently has an action alert regarding mental health priorities. Click here and take 2 minutes (probably less) to urge your Members of Congress to support these three key initiatives:

• Pass the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act
• Pass the Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act
• Pass the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act
• Pass the Mental Health Services for Students Act
• Increase funding for mental and behavioral health services through Title IV, Part A, of ESSA
• 
  

I wish each of you a great close to the school year.

Melissa Shindel, NASSP/MASSP State Coordinator

• Award Winners
• NASSP Ignite Conference in Denver, Colorado
• ASCD's Tuesday Talks
• Articles and news excerpts
• MABE Education Advocate
• MABE State Board of Ed Meeting Minutes
• Maryland Center for School Safety Conference information/registration
• Maryland Association of Student Councils

Register for Ignite 2023: NASSP School Leader Conference!

These past few years have been marked by radical change—to the principalship, to the education landscape, and most importantly, to you and your students’ needs. The job of being a school leader has changed—and so has our conference. Join colleagues from around the country for three days of learning, leading, networking, and collaborating. Join colleagues from Maryland for a state reception on July 14, 2023.

For the full conference itinerary and program details, visit https://ignite.nassp.org/.

Information about MASC's scholarship program is in the April Bulletin. Middle school principals might be interested in the scholarship program (Jack Kent Cook) for rising high-achieving 7th graders. Also some other grant opportunities for schools are listed (in the other Events and Opportunities section).

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/e6ORYGKlg?languageTag=en

On Tuesday, March 28 the Maryland State Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting.

Highlights included presentations and discussion on the following:

• Personnel Actions
• Budget Adjustments, February 2023
• Melissa Fowler, et al. v. Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners
• Maryland Leads Spotlight: Allegany County, Prince George's County
• Legislative Update
• Office of Financial Planning, Operations, and Strategy -- FY 24 Proposed Education Funding: The FY 24 Budget Bill
• Office of Teaching and Learning -- Blueprint Implementation Plan Update
• Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR): Home and Hospital Administration -- Permission to Adopt; Student Behavior Intervention -- Restraint and Seclusion -- Permission to Publish; Local Education Agency Calendar Modification Request
• Appeals and Orders
• Operational Matters
• Litigation Update
• State Board Committee Reports/Updates
• Future Board Agenda Topics
• Opinions

Read the Complete Meeting Recap from the March 28 Meeting

Read the Complete Meeting Recap from the February 28 Meeting

March 21, 2023 In this issue:

• Shifting the Burden of Proof & Other Special Ed Bills

• Curriculum Standards & Control

• The State Budget

• Time to Care Act Extensions

• Virtual Schools

• Student Transportation & Pedestrian Safety

MABE’s Legislative Committee met on Monday, March 13 to review the status of bills on which MABE is taking positions and to receive budget updates. The Committee met again on March 27th. The Legislative Committee is led by Karen Yoho, Chair, and Brenda Wolff, Vice Chair, and includes representatives from all 24 boards of education. The committee guides the association’s lobbying activities in Annapolis, and invites policy and legislative leaders as guest speakers to exchange ideas.

During the legislative session, MABE’s bill testimony reflects the association’s resolutions as annually updated and adopted by the full membership, and legislative priorities and positions as adopted by the Legislative Committee.

MABE’s top priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session include:

• Support for governance authority for local boards of education to adopt education policies and school system budgets reflecting local priorities and resources.

• Support for full State funding for Maryland’s outstanding public schools.

• Support for increased State funding for school construction and renovation projects.

• Support for sustained and increased local government investments in education.

MABE's Legislative Positions & Priorities for the 2023 Session include additional information on these priorities and position statements on other major policy areas. MABE tracked over 380 bills proposing new legal standards, reporting requirements, and funding provisions for Maryland’s 24 local school systems. Major policy areas for bills introduced in 2023 include special education, curriculum, employee relations and benefits, student health, virtual schools, and the teacher shortage.

MABE opposed House Bill 294, County Boards of Education - Due Process Proceedings for Children with Disabilities - Burden of Proof (Sponsor: Del. Atterbeary). This bill would shift the burden of proof from parents to the school system in legal disputes arising in special education cases. HB 294 passed the House unanimously on Monday, March 20 and will soon be considered by the Senate Education Committee. Why MABE Opposed Shifting the Burden of Proof MABE opposes House Bill 294 and the proposal to shift the burden of proof in special education legal disputes. MABE believes HB 294 is unnecessary to ensure that special education services are provided to all eligible students because there are already very strong federal and state due process protections in place and state level enforcement of compliance with these standards. The burden of proof is a legal standard that requires parties (in this case parents/guardians) to provide evidence to demonstrate that a claim or complaint is valid (in this case that current special education services are not providing the student with a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) under federal special education standards). MABE opposes shifting the burden of proof because it would not ensure that parents obtain additional education services for their students or ensure access to affordable legal representation. Shifting the burden of proof would, however, result in increased costs for lawyers, and increased workload and stress for special educators, teachers, principals, speech therapists, school psychologists and other staff. MABE also believes it is reasonable to predict that shifting the burden of proof will result in more student placements in nonpublic special education schools. In these ways, MABE believes shifting the burden of proof is contrary to sound public policy in the management and operation of special education programs in public schools. Shifting the burden of proof to school systems would set the presumption that school systems are not meeting a student’s needs and impose a new workload and legal liability on school systems and staff to prove that they are, in fact, doing so. While school systems are confident they can demonstrate that appropriate services called for in IEPs are being provided, shifting the burden of proof away from parents filing complaints would result in the increased likelihood that complaints are filed and therefore result in an increased burden on the school system to devote staff time and legal resources to preparing for and refuting such claims. In Maryland, and nearly all states, the party initiating the action in a special education due process hearing, whether the parents or the school system, bears the burden of proof. This is consistent with a 2005 Supreme Court case arising from a complaint against the Montgomery County school system (Schaffer v. Weast). A Statewide Commission issued a report in 2014, and rejected making recommendations to shift the burden of proof. The Department of Legislative Services issued a report in 2019 that demonstrates that New York and New Jersey are among the six states with the highest rates of due process dispute resolution activity under similar laws passed to shift the burden of proof to their local school systems. Burden of Proof in Special Education Cases MABE Education Advocate 3 MABE continues to oppose House Bill 1237, Special Education - Judicial Actions - Attorney's Fees and Related Costs (Sponsor: Del. Kaufman). This bill would authorize, but not require, a court to award reasonable attorney’s fees and related costs, including expert witness fees and costs, to the parent of a child with a disability, if the parent prevails in a proceeding that is held to resolve disputes about the identification, evaluation, or educational placements of children with disabilities or the provision of a free appropriate public education. HB 1237 passed the House unanimously on Monday, March 20 and an April 4th hearing is scheduled in the Senate Education Committee. Why MABE Opposes House Bill 1237 In accord with adopted legislative positions, MABE “Opposes legislation to mandate expanded special education services beyond federal requirements;” and “Opposes legislation to provide unilateral parental consent conditions, shift the burden of proof, or require payment of expert witness fees, in special education decisions and disputes including IEP meetings and due process hearings.” MABE urged the legislature not to impose any new litigation-related costs, particularly costs not relating directly to the delivery of teaching and learning for students. This is especially true in the context of special education, as school systems, students, and families continue to work collaboratively toward the goal of faithfully providing the instruction and related services called for in each student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Passing House Bill 1237 would not be in the best interests of this work. The Supreme Court has also clearly ruled on the subject matter of the pending bill. The Supreme Court in Arlington Cen. Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Murphy, 548 U.S. 291 (2006), ruled that IDEA does not require school districts to reimburse parents for expert witness fees even when the parent prevails in a special education dispute. The Court found that IDEA’s specific provision for the awarding of attorney’s fees does not make the school district responsible for other costs incurred by the prevailing parent, including expert witness fees. Why HB 1237 is Not About Attorney’s Fees (They’re already recoverable.) “Maryland regulations authorize (but do not require) the courts to award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party in a due process dispute under circumstances described in specified provisions of the IDEA statute and related regulations …. IDEA authorizes the federal District Court for Maryland or the State circuit court in the county in which the child resides to award reasonable attorney’s fees as part of the costs to the prevailing party, which may be the parent, or may be a State or local agency ….” - DLS Fiscal Note for HB 1237 Contact members of the Senate Education Committee and your Senators to voice your opposition to House Bill 1237. Expert Witness Fees in Special Education Cases

MABE opposed House Bill 448, as amended and passed in the House, because it would now create an unfunded mandate for local school systems to fund “pay parity” for teachers at nonpublic special education schools. As amended, HB 448 would mandate that each local school system with a nonpublic special education school in its jurisdiction calculate the “pay parity” between their salaries and those in the nonpublic schools and include the difference in the school system’s budget. The bill would phase-in the full funding mandate beginning at 33% of the difference being mandated in FY 2025, 66% in FY 2026, and 100% in FY 2027. “IF THE FUNDING PROVIDED TO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TO PAY LOCAL SCHOOL SALARIES TO THE TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL, THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL INCLUDE IN ITS ANNUAL BUDGET FUNDING SUFFICIENT FOR THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TO PAY LOCAL SCHOOL SALARIES TO THE TEACHERS AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.” MABE supported this bill when introduced as a funding obligation for the State, but not local school systems (as introduced the bill actually reduced local costs). MABE emphasized during the bill hearing that the association’s support was conditional on new costs to raise private school teacher salaries not being shifted to local school systems. As amended, HB 448 does precisely this. House Bill 448, as amended and passed in the House, is now contrary to the association’s adopted legislative position which states that MABE: “Supports maintaining the State’s required share of the total costs for nonpublic placements of students;” and “Opposes legislation and state regulations which would impose any new unfunded or underfunded mandate on local school systems.” HB 448 would clearly increase the local share of the significant costs of establishing “pay parity” between local school system and nonpublic special education school staff. A hearing in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is scheduled on March 28th (where the cross-filed SB 311 was not acted on). Please contact the Budget and Taxation Committee and your Senators to oppose House Bill 448 and the proposal to shift any portion of the costs for increased salaries for nonpublic special education school teachers to local school systems.

MABE opposed HB 119/SB 199 - Primary and Secondary Education - Comprehensive Health Education Framework - Established , as introduced. As introduced, this bill would have required MSDE, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), to develop a comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board of education to create an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the comprehensive health education framework; requiring each county board to establish a method by which a parent or guardian may opt out of certain topics, subject to certain requirements; requiring each county board to report each year to MSDE on certain actions; and generally relating to the establishment of a comprehensive health Nonpublic Special Education Teacher Salaries.

The House Ways and Means Committee struck all of these health curriculum-related provisions and replaced them with new language pertaining to all curriculum. MABE issued a Call to Action to urge opposition to HB 119 as amended by the House Ways and Means Committee and then passed by the House.

Why MABE Opposed HB 119 – As Amended • HB 119 is a radical change to Maryland educational policy that balances state and local control! The bill would mandate that local school systems follow every element of the policy and guidelines for the program of instruction for public schools established by the State Board of Education.

• HB 119 reaches into the boardroom and the classroom, limiting the ability of teachers to teach with any professional autonomy in their classrooms. The bill would mandate that “all curriculum guides, courses of study, resource materials and other teaching aids” shall be in accordance with the state policy and program of instruction adopted by the State Board.

• HB 119 covers all subject areas, resulting a complete state takeover. The bill would result in the immediate state takeover of any local discretion or flexibility to develop and deliver instruction in every subject. The state has curriculum frameworks for Reading, Writing, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, History, Government, Physical Education, Health, Fine Arts, Financial Literacy, Environmental Literacy, and more.

• HB 119 grants absolute authority to the State Superintendent to decide if a local school system is not following every detail of the state standards and then withhold millions of dollars in state funding. The bill would mandate that the State Superintendent enforce local compliance with these new state curriculum mandates by:

• Notifying the local board of noncompliance, which is defined as “not following every element of the policy and guidelines established by the State Board;”

• Giving the local board only 30 days to alter the local curriculum;

• If the local corrective action is not taken within 30 days, requiring the Comptroller to withhold 10% of the annual state education funding budgeted for the school system; and

• After 90 days, another 10% of the annual state education funding is withheld if the local board has not altered its local curriculum.

• Withheld funding is only released if the State Superintendent determines the “discrepancy has been resolved.” On March 14th the Maryland State Board of Education also issued a strong statement of opposition to this legislation: “The Maryland State Board of Education (State Board) has been closely following House Bill 119, County Boards of Education – Curriculum Guides and Course of Study – Requirements, as it has been considered by the Maryland House of Delegates and will be considered by the Maryland State Senate. While we appreciate the interest and support in authorizing additional authority over curriculum throughout the State, the State Board opposes House Bill 119 because we believe it is unnecessary.” MABE Education Advocate 6 “The State Board does not believe that the additional authority proposed in House Bill 119 is needed considering the broad visitatorial authority entrusted to the State Board regarding educational policies of the State and the State Superintendent’s authority to carry out those policies. The State Superintendent of Schools, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the State Board have established processes and relationships for the development and adoption of regulations, curricular frameworks and guidelines with our local education agencies, and stakeholders. This bill, as it stands, would potentially result in the unintended consequence of upending the longstanding collaborative relationship between MSDE, local education agencies, and stakeholders. It may also interview with efforts to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.” Read the March 14, 2023 Letter from State Board President Crawford to Members of Educational Community and Members of the General Assembly Opposing House Bill 119.

House Bill 200, the State Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2024, including the provision of State Education Aid, has passed in the House and Senate. Under the Aid to Education section, the State Budget provides slightly more than $10 billion for education formulas and program, including: Foundation Program Career & Technical Education Compensatory Education Limited English Proficient Retirement Benefits Guaranteed Tax Base Children at Risk Food Service Prekindergarten Student Transportation Special Education Blueprint Transition Grants Concentration of Poverty Grants At-Risk Early Education Grants The Budget Bill, and accompanying Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA), are in the process of passing in Senate, following initial adoption in the House. The Senate and House versions of the Budget include differences in certain provisions for state education funding. The Governor’s proposed Budget provided $500 million in additional investment in the Blueprint Fund, to The FY 2024 State Budget for Education MABE Education Advocate 7 which the House added another $400 million. The Senate chose to add the lesser amount of $300 million, again in addition to the $500 million already included in the Budget Bill as introduced. These significant additional investments in the Blueprint Fund signal the Governor’s and Legislature’s strong commitment to sustaining future funding for Blueprint implementation and success. The State Budget for public education also includes all state funding for the MSDE Headquarters, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, and grant funding to other outside organizations. Overall, the FY 2024 net increase of more than $90 million primarily reflects the increase in special funds supporting State Aid for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future program implementation. The largest increase in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund (Blueprint Fund) allowance from fiscal 2023 to 2024 is in compensatory education funding, which receives an additional $390 million due a 34% increase in free and reduced-price meal (FRPM) student enrollment. In addition, general funds increase by $150 million due primarily to increases for State aid for teacher retirement, student transportation, and bonuses for noncertificated support professionals. MABE is supporting Senate Bill 828, as amended and passed in the Senate, to provide reasonable extension and clarifications of timelines for developing regulations and beginning to collect employer and employee contributions for the new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program and Fund. MABE supported the intent of the bill as introduced, and joined the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Maryland Municipal League (MML), and Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), in requesting amendments to further extend the deadlines for complying with the new law, including through the law’s process for securing a waiver based on the quality of the employer’s benefits plan. Specifically, MABE requested two additional amendments to further extend the funding timeline and to guarantee that clear standards are in place to facilitate local plan alignment with the state program. MABE has emphasized the need for timely and clear criteria for developing local employee benefits programs that meet the standards for qualifying exemptions. Local school systems and other local governments should be able to rely on formally adopted standards as they work to modify their benefits and pursue a qualifying exemption. In addition, school systems and local governments will utilize this time to develop annual budgets that are fully informed by the established program. Fortunately, the Maryland Department of Labor (DOL) and bill sponsors have agreed to amendments to provide even more time than initially requested by MABE and other organizations. Under the bill as amended and passed in the Senate, DOL would be required to adopt regulations on or before January 1, 2024. These regulations must include the provisions governing the procedures and criteria for employers to apply for approval of a waiver from participating in the State plan. Contributions to the FAMLI Fund, at a 50% employer/employee contribution rate, would not commence until October 1, 2024 (extended from Oct. 1, 2023). SB 828 has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Economic Matters Committee on March 30th. The cross-filed bill, House Bill 988, had not been acted on. Time to Care Act Revisions & Timeline Extension MABE Education Advocate 8 The Senate has passed Senate Bill 610 to establish requirements related to virtual education for public schools. The bill includes several provisions MABE supports, with a major caveat that the virtual school program currently operating on the Eastern Shore will be allowed to operate through the 2024-2025 school year, but not beyond, unless a not-for-profit entity is operating the virtual school program. • A local board of education may authorize the local superintendent, in cases of severe weather conditions, to provide virtual education days to students instead of closing the public schools in the county. Before a local board of education may authorize the local superintendent to provide these virtual education days to students, the local board must (1) discuss this topic at an open meeting and (2) vote affirmatively to authorize the local superintendent to provide virtual education days to students during a severe weather event. • The bill’s requirements for virtual schools do not apply to (1) a virtual learning opportunity offered by MSDE or a local board of education under the Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities (MVLO) program; (2) an upper-level high school program that has online components and designs a student’s schedule to accommodate the student’s work schedule; or (3) a public school operating under a virtual education plan during a prolonged state of emergency. • A virtual school must provide each enrolled student with access to the following services: (1) to the extent practicable, extracurricular activities including sports at the public school the student would otherwise attend; (2) notwithstanding any other law or regulation and subject to a participation agreement between the public school and the parent or guardian of the student, participation in organized athletics and on athletic teams at the public school the student would otherwise be required to attend; (3) wraparound services; (4) food and nutrition services; and (5) health care services equivalent to services available to students who receive in-person instruction in the county’s public schools.

• After collaboration with local school systems, MSDE must establish in regulations specified standards for a virtual school. A local board must adopt policies for the mandatory return to in-person instruction for students enrolled in a virtual school, including students who are failing academically after receiving the appropriate supports.

• In addition to a current requirement to have a teaching certificate or any other relevant professional certification authorized under the Maryland Code of Regulations (COMAR 13A.12.01), a teacher or education support personnel assigned to a virtual school must (1) be an employee of the county, or collaborating county, that established the virtual school; (2) be subject to the collective bargaining agreement of that jurisdiction; and (3) have access to professional development.

• A local board of education may not contract with a for-profit entity, but may contract with a nonprofit entity, to operate or administer a virtual school; however, this may not be construed to prohibit a local board from contracting with a for-profit entity for goods and services for a virtual school. A hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled for March 29th.

MABE opposed House Bill 849 because it would weaken student transportation and student pedestrian safety protections. HB 849 would amend the law to require that a law enforcement agency issue a warning, instead of a citation, for a first violation captured by a school bus monitoring camera if (1) the violation occurred on a road that has four or more lanes of traffic and (2) the motor vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus. Under current law, if a school vehicle stops on a roadway and is operating alternately flashing red lights, the driver of any other vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle must stop at least 20 feet from the rear of the school vehicle, if approaching from its rear, or at least 20 feet from the front of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its front. The driver of any vehicle meeting or overtaking the school bus may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the alternately flashing red lights are deactivated. The requirement does not apply to the driver of a vehicle on a divided highway, if the school vehicle is on a different roadway. A hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has not been scheduled for March 29th. MABE opposes Senate Bill 11 because it would make it more difficult to maintain and establish school zones in which lower, safer speed limits are set and enforced within a reasonable distance from the school. This bill would reduce the radius within which a school zone may be established and speed monitoring systems may be placed and used within a school zone, unless a traffic engineering study indicated otherwise. As amended and passed in the Senate this bill would limit the radius to 500 feet unless a traffic engineering study recommends establishing a school zone up to one half mile from the school. SB 11 was heard in the House Environment and Transportation Committee on March 23rd.

MABE supported House Bill 1219 and Senate Bill 893, the Governor’s Educator Shortage Act, House Bill 1219 has passed in the House, with major amendments. As amended, the bill would:

• Require MSDE, in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, to establish specific goals for the recruitment and retention of teachers in teacher preparation programs in the State;

• Require the Department to establish and maintain a Maryland Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Diversity Dashboard;

• Including under the category of “high staff qualifications” for publicly funded eligible prekindergarten providers certain early childhood education teachers employed for a certain period of time;

• Altering the requirements for, and expanding the purpose of, the Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award to include mental health professionals employed by public schools in the State;

• Altering the qualifications for applicants and recipients of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland program; and

• Establishing the Teacher Development and Retention Program and Fund to provide support to students interested in pursuing careers in the teaching profession.

MABE also supported Senate Bill 668, the Teacher Degree Apprenticeship bill. This bill establishes the Teacher Apprenticeship Startup Grant Program administered by the Maryland Department of Labor (MDL) to (1) provide opportunities to begin a career in education in the State to high school students, college students, and career changers; (2) develop a cohort of individuals qualified to work as teachers in the State; and (3) encourage local boards of education to hire apprentices. In fiscal 2025, MDL may award up to $500,000 to a sponsor for development and launch of a teacher apprenticeship program. A program sponsor, which may include a local school system, must establish a multi-year registered apprenticeship program that develops a career path, such that level one is a tutor, level two is a paraeducator, and level three is a teacher. A high school level apprenticeship program under a teacher apprenticeship program must be designed to allow a participating student to maximize attainment in college level credits through advanced placement courses, an early college program (or dual enrollment) at a student’s high school or an institution of higher education, and a teacher CTE program. A high school level program must also be designed to allow a student to complete coursework and training through an innovative school scheduling model so that the student can complete the apprenticeship’s tutoring requirements during regular school hours and outside regular school hours.

House Bill 878 has passed in the House, and would require each local board of education to establish a policy to accommodate students who need to participate in telehealth appointments scheduled during the school day. The telehealth policy must require each middle and high school to designate a space for student telehealth appointments that (1) is a private space in the school; (2) has Internet access; (3) includes at least one seating option with a flat surface and electrical outlet nearby to accommodate placement of a laptop; and (4) is not a bathroom or closet. Beyond the definitions and requirements in the bill, no statewide student health guidelines, typically developed by MSDE and the Maryland Department of Health, are required to be developed, allowing each local board to develop its own policy. However, the bill states that “on request, the Department shall provide technical assistance to a county board to establish the student telehealth policy required under this section.”

House Bill 458 and Senate Bill 360 have passed in their respective chambers. This bill makes the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) an independent unit of State government and allows appointed members of IAC to be removed by their appointing authority for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform their duties. The bill raises the cost thresholds for specified actions related to school construction that must be approved by the State Superintendent. Finally, it makes other technical and procedural changes related to the approval and funding of school construction projects in the State. It also repeals the School Safety Grant Program (SSGP) and the Aging Schools Program (ASP) beginning in FY 2027. The House bill was significantly Teacher Apprenticeship Program Student Health Services & Telehealth Space School Facilities MABE Education Advocate 11 amended to include provisions applying only to Prince George’s County’s public private partnership. HB 458 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 28th. Throughout the 2023 legislative session MABE is providing an updated weekly Bill Report containing MABE’s positions and the status of all the bills we are tracking, including hearing dates.

Disclaimer: The Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) provides the materials and information contained in this newsletter and on this website for its members and non-member users for informational purposes only. Using or accessing this newsletter or website does not create an attorney client relationship between MABE and the accessing user or browser. This newsletter and our website are not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult with your legal counsel for specific advice and information. Bill Report & Hearing Schedules Advocacy Resources

Our very own member, Lamark Holley (Assistant Principal in Harford County) is highlighted in this article: https://www.nassp.org/2023/04/07/an-assistant-principal-reflects-on-his-role/

What School Leaders Can Do to Ease Teacher Stress (edweek.org)

BLUEPRINT BOARD OKs RELEASING FUNDS FOR ALL 24 SCHOOL SYSTEMS: The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board on Thursday approved releasing money earmarked for reforms to the state’s 24 school systems because each has met the board’s minimum requirements for their local education plans. The legislature approved a budget that included an additional $900 million in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future fund, the state’s savings account for the ongoing education reform effort. William Ford/Maryland Matters.

Assistant Principals Share How They Hone Their Skills - And Make the Job Their Own (Ed Week)

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/assistant-principals-share-how-they-hone-their-skills-and-make-the-job-their-own/2023/04?utm_source=nl&utm_medium=eml&utm_campaign=popweek&utm_content=list&M=6610217&UUID=af1423a2c9cb72aca348abe364f2886f&T=8853126

National School Psychologists Association (NSPA) - Mental Health

Let's talk about mental health. We have all heard and read about the current state of student mental health--it's a crisis. That news can feel overwhelming when we are working with hundreds or even thousands of students as scholarship providers. How can we support all of them? How can we take care of ourselves in the process?

This week's newsletter is a primer for NSPA's Mental Health Matters Summit: Prioritizing Mental Health for Your Students and Yourself which will take place virtually on May 1st and 2nd to kick off the Mental Health Awareness Month. Read the articles below on the current state of students and how some institutions and organizations are addressing their mental health needs. Then, join us at the Summit to dive deeper into research and trends, program adaptations, student supports, and self-care. Click here to learn more and register!

Maryland General Assembly’s Page Program allows high schoolers to view legislative process. In the leadup to midnight on Monday, high school seniors wearing gray blazers lined the gallery balconies overlooking the State House chambers. As the clock struck 12, they released bags of confetti and balloons, showering the lawmakers below. They’re the Maryland General Assembly’s pages — and their duties culminate with playing a key role in celebrations for sine die, the end of the legislature’s 90-day session. Each year, 105 pages and 36 alternates from around the state spend two nonconsecutive weeks in Annapolis to learn about how a bill becomes a law. We caught up with some of this year’s class to talk about their experiences.

MOORE SIGNS HALLMARK 'SERVICE YEAR' LEGISLATION: During one of his hallmark campaign promises into reality, Gov. Wes Moore signed into law the creation of a program that will allow recent high school graduates to participate in a year of paid public service before entering the workforce or continuing their education. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.

· The program, as envisioned by Moore, would take on an initial 200 participants in its first year. By 2027, the program could include up to 2,000 high school graduates, all of whom would be paid a stipend during their service. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/03/26/how-have-school-systems-in-maryland-struggled-to-hire-educators-new-blueprint-reports-detail-difficulties/

COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL GAINS TRACTION: In Maryland and across the country, one South Baltimore high school is considered a model among community schools, a term gaining more attention around the state as they expand rapidly under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The model has been implemented in hundreds of schools across Maryland, a win for education advocates who say the approach can help more children thrive and compensate for wealth and race disparities in the classroom. Hallie Miller and Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Partners in Progress: Working Together to Safeguard Our Schools

The conference will take place from 8:00 to 4:00 on July 19th and 20th, 2023.

Attendees will network with other school and safety professionals, learn about current safety concerns and hear from outstanding subject matter experts.

Who should attend?

Administrators, Teachers, School Psychologists/Guidance Counselors, School Resource Officers (SROs), Law Enforcement, Local/State Emergency Managers, Fusion Center Analysts, Crisis Intervention Units, Counselors & Mental Health Specialists, School Social Workers, School Safety Professionals, and other school safety stakeholders.

Where is the conference?

The conference will take place at the Turf Valley Resort in Howard County, MD

What are you waiting for?

REGISTER NOW

Maryland English Language Learning Family Involvement Network (MELLFIN*)

MELLFIN is excited to announce the 18th Annual MELLFIN (In-person) Conference on May 18, 2023, from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Prince George's County, MD. The conference theme is Many Cultures, Languages, and Voices: One Community. Participants will learn successful strategies for working with immigrant families from diverse cultures, network with colleagues, and gain knowledge about local, state, and national resources supporting immigrant families.

The early bird special registration ends on March 31.

Join us and be inspired, equipped, and empowered!

Please register at http://www.mellfin.org.

Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You

Live Author Workshops:
2 Sessions for 3 Clock Hours

Presenter: PJ Caposey

Part 1: May 15, 2023, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Part 2: May 22, 2023, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT

What You Will Learn:

• This presentation unveils that time management is simply a symptom of one of eight larger issues.

Understanding and attacking these issues are key to sustained personal and professional success.

• This talk is infused with humor and will help everyone identify why they may struggle with optimizing their efficiency and effectiveness.

• Participants will leave changed and inspired to make immediate changes to their habits and lifestyle.

Register Now

Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You: Strategies That Work from an Educator Who's Been There

By PJ Caposey

Buy Now.. 📓

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Strategic Plan Phases 1 & 2- Phases 1 & 2 of the Strategic Plan outline the new mission, vision, values, priorities, enablers, and goals that will guide MSDE’s organizational direction. To access the Strategic Plan and Engagement Report, please visit: strategicplan.marylandpublicschools.org.

For current information on The Blueprint for Maryland's Future visit blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org.

For information on your school system's Blueprint Implementation Plan, go to www.marylandpublicschools.org

Go to www.nassp.org to join the Leadership Networks

On Tuesday, January 24 the Maryland State Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting.

Highlights included presentations and discussion on the following:

• Public Comments
• Personnel Actions and Board Adjustments, December 22
• Legislative Updates
• Stakeholder Engagement Session: Maryland Teacher of the Year Recognition, Maryland Leads Spotlight (Montgomery County Public Schools and St. Mary's County Public Schools)
• Regulations Deep Dive: Educator Preparation and Licensure Updates
• Assessment, Accountability and Performance Reporting: Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program 2022 Results, Part 2; Accountability Update; Maryland School Report Card Update
• Early Intervention and Special Education Services: Data Deep Dive, Students with Disabilities, Part 2
• Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR): Educator Licensure; Programs for Professionally Licensed Personnel; Student Transportation; Graduation Requirements for Public High Schools in Maryland; Child Care Subsidy Program
• Student Board Member Committee Reports/Updates
• Future Board Agenda Topics
• Opinions

Read the Complete Meeting Recap

Dr. Addie Kaufman, Executive Director

10031 Old Ocean City Blvd., Suite 209

Berlin, Maryland 21811

443-545-9988

akaufman@mdmassp.org

www.mdmassp.org

Ms. Ronnie Bohn, Membership Coordinator

410-707-0420

ronniebohn@mdmassp.org

Ms. Carol LoSchiavo, Bookkeeper

carol.mdmassp@gmail.com

Below you will find the list of MASSP Officers and school district representatives. We sometimes lose board members to promotions or transfers to elementary; therefore, we have a few vacancies. Some districts choose to have co-representatives, which is just fine! If you would like to represent your county or private/independent schools, individually or with a colleague, please contact me at akaufman@mdmassp.org. We would love to have all school districts and independent schools represented on the MASSP Board of Directors.

Officers:

President: Dr. Afie Mirshah-Nayar, Paint Branch H.S. (Montgomery)

President Elect: Mr. Michael C. Brown, Winters Mill H.S. (Carroll)

Past President: Dr. Rob Willoughby, Human Resources (Caroline)

Treasurer: Dr. Marc Cohen, Seneca Valley H.S. (Montgomery)

Secretary: Dr. Debbie O'Byrne, Patapsco M.S. (Howard)

NASSP State Coordinator: Ms. Melissa Shindel, Glenwood M.S. (Howard)

Board Members:

Allegany - Charles Moran, Assistant Principal, Allegany High School

Anne Arundel - Linda Chandler, Principal, Old Mill Middle South

Baltimore City - Shaun Somerville, Principal, Career Vocational Technical HS & Stephanie Farmer, Principal, Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy

Baltimore County - Kalisha Miller, Principal, Pikesville MS & Monica Sample, Principal ,

Overlea HS

Calvert - Michelle Bell, Assistant Principal, Patuxent HS

Caroline - Rob Willoughby, Human Resources, Caroline County

Carroll - Wendy Garvin, Assistant Principal, Winters Mill HS

Cecil - Gina Pucci, Assistant Principal, Perryville HS

Charles - Doug Dolan, Principal, LaPlata HS

Dorchester - David Stofa, Principal, North Dorchester HS

Frederick - Donna Clabaugh, Principal, Urbana HS

Garrett - Michelle Harman, Assistant Principal, Northern Garrett HS

Harford - Lamark Holley, Assistant Principal, South Hampton MS & Erin O'Hara, Assistant Principal, Aberdeen MS

Howard - Robert Motley, Principal, Atholton HS

Kent - Kris Hemstetter, Principal, Kent County HS

Montgomery - Jewel Sanders, Principal, Rosa Parks MS

Prince George's - Robynne Prince, Principal, Martin Luther King MS; Regena Williams, Principal, Northwestern HS

Queen Anne - Lois McCoy, Principal, Matapeake MS

St. Mary's - Debbie Dennie , Principal, Leonardtown MS

Somerset - Tony Bevilaqua, Washington Academy & High School

Talbot - Sherry Spurry, Principal, Easton HS

Washington - Amanda Mulledy, Principal, Hancock Middle Senior HS

Wicomico - Angela Kerrick, Assistant Principal, Pittsville MS

Worcester - Jenifer Rayne, Principal, Pocomoke HS

Higher Education - Dr. Gina Massella, Professor, Loyola University

Private/Non-Public: Amanda Macomber, MS Director,

The Bryn Mawr School

Organizational Representatives:

Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC): Ms. Debbie Dennie, St. Mary's County

Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Representative: Patrick Saunderson, Director Central Office Administration, Howard County

Maryland State Board of Education: Dr. Vermelle Greene & Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Representative: Lori Ellis, Coordinator, Leadership Development

National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Past Presidents:

Mr. Robert Motley, Atholton HS, Howard County

Dr. Christine Handy, MCAAP / MCBOA President

Mr. William Cecil Short, Charles County & Prince George's County

MASSP thanks all of the MASSP officers, board members, and organizational representatives who volunteer their time to ensure that all members receive current information, quality resources, professional development, networking opportunities, and resources. They also work behind the scenes to advocate for school leaders! Our voices must be heard!

MASSP is fortunate to work with the following partners throughout the year:

MASSP/MAESP Joint Partners:

Platinum - EDMENTUM

Bronze - LEXIA LEARNING & VIRCO

MASSP Partners:

Platinum - Equitable, Jostens & Lifetouch

Silver - Achieve 3000/McGraw Hill, EPI, Math Thru Music, Pathways to Empower & PlayVS

Bronze - ACE, FEV Tutor, & Horace Mann