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The Maryland State Board of
Education last month selected Dr. Karen B. Salmon as the State’s next State
Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1.
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Dr. Salmon began serving as Acting
Superintendent on June 1, and will officially take the helm as State
Superintendent one month later. She
succeeded Interim State Superintendent Jack Smith, who earlier this year was
named the next Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools.
The State Board voted unanimously to
elevate Dr. Salmon to the State Superintendent position, pending final contract
negotiations.
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“I
am committed to collaborating with all of our stakeholders to ensure a
world-class education for every Maryland public school student,” Dr. Salmon
said. “I want to build on Maryland's
past accomplishments, streamline programs at the Maryland State Department of
Education, and articulate a shared vision for educational excellence.”
State
Board President Guffrie M. Smith, Jr., said Dr. Salmon comes to the position
well prepared to lead the State’s system to continued improvement.
“Dr. Salmon knows our State,
understands our challenges, and has a track record of developing effective
solutions to educational issues through collaboration,” Mr. Smith said. “The Board looks forward with great
confidence to working alongside Dr. Salmon as we move our schools and our
students toward new levels of success.”
Dr. Salmon has spent the vast
majority of her career in Maryland public education. She joined the Maryland State Department of
Education last August as Assistant State Superintendent for College and Career
Readiness before taking over as Interim Deputy Superintendent for School
Effectiveness earlier this year.
Prior to joining the MSDE staff, Dr.
Salmon served as Superintendent of the Bay Shore Union Free School District in
Bay Shore, NY. She moved to New York
after 10 years as Superintendent of the high-performing Talbot County Public
School System.
Dr. Salmon spent more than 30 years
as an educator on Maryland’s Eastrn Shore, beginning her career as a special
education teacher in the Caroline County Public Schools. She later became a vocational coordinator and
an assistant principal in the Caroline schools before moving to Talbot County
as Coordinator of Services for Exceptional Children. Dr. Salmon became Assistant Superintendent of
the Talbot County schools in 1997 and Superintendent in 2003.
Named the Maryland Superintendent of
the Year in 2012, Dr. Salmon is the recipient of numerous awards and honors
throughout her educational career. Dr.
Salmon holds a Ph.D. in Special Education/Administration from the University of
Maryland College Park, as well as a Masters in Special Education from the same
institution. She holds a Bachelor of
Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Delaware.
A native of Harford County and the
daughter of an educator, Dr. Salmon and her husband John reside in Bozman,
MD. They are the parents of two grown
daughters: Lauren, an oncologist living in Virginia, and Rachael, a student at
the University of Maryland College Park. Both children graduated from Talbot
County public schools.
Board President Smith said the
Maryland State Board of Education would like to thank the citizens of Maryland
for enthusiastically participating and providing invaluable insights throughout
the selection process. Community members
throughout the State shared with the Board their perspectives, opinions,
concerns and ideas through various meetings, focus groups, letters and
surveys. Board members found this input
invaluable in evaluating each candidate and reaching a final decision, he said.
Thomas Gordon, Sr., of Charles
County last Friday night was named statewide winner of the ninth annual Maryland
Parent Involvement Matters Awards (PIMA) program.
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Gordon, a volunteer at Indian Head Elementary School,
developed the Keeping Kids in Coats Program, designed to help clothe
economically disadvantaged students in the cold weather months. He also serves as a robotics coach,
volunteers in the school’s PBIS program, and is a fixture in the school
community.
Timothy J. Rosin, principal at Indian Head, said that
Gordon’s involvement is deep, spending year after year on a variety of programs
designed to make the school a better place to learn. “The Maryland Parent Involvement Matters
award is the most logical plan of action--to recognize him for the impact he has made in the lives of some many
of our students,” he said.
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Gordon was selected among the five
finalists announced at the gala awards ceremony at Martin’s West. The finalists were narrowed down from a list
of 24 semifinalists announced last month.
The other finalists were:
- Chen
Chen, County Schools, Anne Arundel
County
- Cheri
Pegues, Towson High School, Baltimore County
- Earnest
Moore, County Schools, Prince George’s County
-
Donna Turnamian, Evening High School,
Wicomico County
PIMA Videos: 2016 Finalists and Winner
“Maryland schools are at their best when parents and other volunteers
are working to improve each classroom for every child," said Governor
Larry Hogan. "I congratulate Mr. Gordon, along with all of the
finalists, for outstanding contributions to our State's students, schools and
communities.”
Acting State Superintendent of
Schools Karen Salmon noted that parent involvement is critical to Maryland’s
educational success.
“Thomas Gordon has been willing to
do whatever it takes to improve the entire school community,” Dr. Salmon
said. “Strong parental involvement strengthens
our classrooms and schools, and Thomas never stops working to make Indian Head
better for all students. His tireless commitment is an inspiration.”
PIMA is the nation’s first and only
statewide award program of its kind, honoring parents and guardians for their
critical work. The PIMA Program
recognizes parents from local school systems across the State of Maryland,
nominated for their contributions in one or more of the five areas of parental
involvement: Communication;
Volunteering; Learning; Decision Making; and Community Collaboration.
Many of the honorees from previous
years have become parent involvement advocates on the statewide level – serving
as members of task forces, presenters at statewide meetings, and participants
in education conventions as well as focus groups.
The PIMA Program is supported by: Martin's West, Maryland PTA, Maryland
State Department of Education, Maryland's 24 School Systems, Rudolph's Office
and Computer Supply, and Target.
Acting State Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Karen B. Salmon
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It has
only been a few weeks since the Maryland State Board of Education selected me
as the next State Superintendent of Schools, and already I’ve heard best wishes
expressed from all parts of our great State.
I certainly appreciate the support I’ve received, and the confidence
that I have been shown.
There are
terrific schools found in every school system in Maryland. My goal as State Superintendent is to improve
every school. Every child, every parent,
and every taxpayer deserves a strong school in their neighborhood.
I look
forward to working with each of you as we build upon Maryland’s educational
legacy. We have work to do, but our
foundation is strong.
* * *
MSDE
last month honored outstanding performance in secondary and postsecondary Career
and Technology Education (CTE) with the 2016
Awards of Excellence.
Maryland’s
CTE Awards of Excellence
program--sponsored by MSDE--recognizes business partners, teachers and others
creating opportunities for students to learn about and prepare for careers. The
honorees are sponsoring internships, mentoring students as they complete
real-world projects, and creating Maryland’s high-skilled future
workforce. As a result of their
leadership and contribution to CTE programs, Maryland students are better
prepared for careers in computer science, hospitality management, cyber
security and health and biomedical sciences.
This year’s award winners represent outstanding contributions to CTE programs from across the state and include:
• OUTSTANDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS – CTE PROGRAM
Financial Council Incorporated / John D. Hauserman, Senior Advisor
Partnership with Howard County Public Schools
• OUTSTANDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS – CTE SYSTEM
Marriott International
Partnership with Montgomery College & Montgomery County Public Schools
• OUTSTANDING CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM - SECONDARY
Academy of Health Professions Program
Carroll County Career and Technology Center
• OUTSTANDING CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM - POSTSECONDARY
Cybersecurity Degree Program
Frederick Community College
• OUTSTANDING CHANGE AGENT - SECONDARY
Murray Parker, Principal
Western School of Technology and Environmental Science
Baltimore County Public Schools
• OUTSTANDING CHANGE AGENT - POSTSECONDARY
Proficiency Credit Initiative
Anne Arundel Community College
• DISTINGUISHED SERVICE - SECONDARY
Susan E. Garrett
Supervisor of Career and Technology Education
Harford County Public Schools
• DISTINGUISHED SERVICE – POSTSECONDARY
Fran Leibfreid
Associate Dean of Instruction
Allegany College of Maryland
• OUTSTANDING CTE MARKETING CAMPAIGN - SECONDARY
Department of College & Career Readiness and Innovative Programs
Prince George’s County Public Schools
For more information about CTE programs throughout Maryland, please visit
www.mdcteprograms.org.
* * *
 2016 PIMA Winner, Thomas Gordon, Sr., Charles County
Thomas Gordon, Sr., of Charles County on Friday night was named statewide winner of the ninth annual Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Awards (PIMA) program. Gordon, a volunteer at Indian Head Elementary School, is a U.S. Park Police officer, and brings his horse to school on Career Day. He also developed the Keeping Kids in Coats Program, designed to help clothe economically disadvantaged students in the cold weather months. He also serves as a robotics coach, volunteers in the school’s PBIS program, and is a fixture in the school community.
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2016 PIMA Videos: Finalists and Winner
June 16-17 - MSDE Maryland Education Data Summit, Ellicott City
June 21 - Final day of the 2015-16 school year
June 28 - Maryland State Board of Education Meeting, Baltimore
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