Press Release: State's First Promising Principals Academy Held In Calvert County

Emerging Leaders From Across Maryland Spend Three Days In Intensive Professional Development

For Immediate Release                                                 Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486
 

Baltimore, MD (July 30, 2014)

A new generation of Maryland school leaders converged on Solomons Island this week for the first Governor’s Promising Principals Academy.

The Academy was a unique effort by the Maryland State Department of Education to prepare a new cadre of principals.  Research has repeatedly shown that an effective principal is the key to a successful school.  Governor Martin O'Malley has challenged Maryland to create a pipeline to identify, nurture, and support the development of great principals.

“Maryland public schools lead the nation in large part because of the outstanding educators who lead our schools,” Governor O’Malley said.  “We need to train and support these women and men who guide the preparation of our State’s most precious natural resource: our children.  Strong school leaders provide the cornerstone of an educational system that develops college and career-ready graduates.”

Two participants from each of Maryland’s 24 local school systems have been taking part in the Academy.  Participants were nominated by their local superintendent based on their interest, current position, and leadership potential.  The summer conference—aligned to principal evaluation standards—is the first time the entire cohort of promising principals has gathered as a whole.

State Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery addressed the emerging leaders on Wednesday, the final day of the three-day residential academy. 

“Maryland is fortunate to have so many terrific educators stepping forward to lead schools,” Dr. Lowery said.  “The Promising Principals Academy provided not only food for thought, but practical strategies to build stronger schools.”

Participants had been immersed in intensive professional development on subjects ranging from synergistics to ethics. 

For more on the Promising Principals Academy, see: https://sites.google.com/site/promisingprincipals.

 

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