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News & Notes- June 2025 |
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President's Report |
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Dr. Joshua Fine |
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Dear MAESP Members,
As we approach the end of the school year, I want to extend my best wishes to each of you. I hope that your end-of-season activities run smoothly and provide meaningful closure for you, your students, and your staff.
I am very much looking forward to June 5, when our organization will travel to Salisbury, MD to host a School Leader Social Hour at Brew River. This event aims to spread our support, fellowship, advocacy, and, of course, a few free appetizers to our school leaders on the shore. It will be a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate our achievements together.
As we transition into June and July, let us remember that these months are a time for us as leaders to fill our own buckets. We should allow ourselves the space to rest, spend quality time with loved ones, and engage in our own learning. I am particularly excited about traveling to Seattle from July 11-13 for the UNITED Conference for School Leaders, coordinated by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). If you are also heading there, look out for an email from MAESP regarding our planned state meet-up!
As this will be my last newsletter as President of MAESP, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to our amazing executive board for their unwavering support, hard work, and dedication to our organization. A special thank you goes to Dr. Christopher Wooleyhand, our executive director, for his exceptional leadership, and to our past president, Tracy Hilliard, for her guidance and grace.
I am excited to support Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket as she steps into the presidency of our organization. Dr. Edoho-Eket, an exceptional principal in Howard County, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that I know will greatly benefit all our members. Congratulations as well to Justin Holbrook from Baltimore City, who will step into the role of President-elect next year. I look forward to collaborating with both of these outstanding leaders as your past president.
MAESP continues to be a strong organization with growing membership, fantastic opportunities for professional growth, and invaluable statewide support that enhances our roles as school leaders.
Have a wonderful summer, everyone! Thank you for this incredible learning opportunity to serve as your President.
Warm regards, Dr. Joshua Fine Flower Hill Elementary President Maryland Association of Elementary Principals |
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Executive Director's Message |
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Dr. Christopher Wooleyhand |
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Here we go, the final push to finish a successful school year! I hope your June goes smoothly and that you have plans to "sharpen the saw" this summer. As we reflect on the progress and achievements of this school year, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate you — the dedicated leaders at the heart of Maryland’s schools. Your unwavering commitment, resilience, and innovative leadership continue to make a profound difference in the lives of students, families, and communities across our state.
Your efforts have created environments where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to learn. You not only guided academic success, but also fostered equity, inclusion, and belonging. You have nurtured the talents of your staff, uplifted student voices, and championed partnerships that extend beyond the school walls. Your work has inspired not only your school communities, but also your colleagues and educational leaders across Maryland and beyond. Thank you for the passion, purpose, and excellence you bring to your role every single day.
While we have two more months with our current board, I would like to thank them for their dedication throughout the long school year. Serving on our board of directors and executive board is a commitment of time and energy that is greatly valued. Special thanks to Dr. Joshua Fine, Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket, Tracy Hilliard, Sue Myers, and Dr. Glen Messier for their consistency and contributions as our MAESP Board of Directors. Thanks also to our awesome membership coordinator, Blaine Hawley, for working hard to keep our members connected to MAESP. She was invaluable during our transition to our new membership platform.
With appreciation, Christopher Wooleyhand, Ph.D. Executive Director, MAESP |
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Member Spotlight! |
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NDP Announced!
On April 11th, a special visit was paid to Fort Foote Elementary to surprise Dr. Ryan Daniel with the news that she had been selected as Maryland's 2025 National Distinguished Principal. Her students, staff, daughters, grandmother, and special guests lined the main hallway where everyone gave her a flower as she made her way down the gauntlet of love and admiration. Dr. Daniel’s nominators noted that her warm personality, strong rapport with staff, students, and the broader community, and visionary leadership have significantly transformed the culture at Fort Foote Elementary School. Her commitment to fostering connections extends beyond the classroom through events such as Popcorn with the Principal, Donuts with Dads, Thanksgiving baskets, and the inaugural Parent Academy- Homework without Tears. These events not only engage the students but also create opportunities for families and the community to connect in a positive and inclusive environment. One of Dr. Daniel’s most admirable qualities is her hands-on leadership style. Each day, she greets every student at the start and end of the school day, ensuring they feel seen and valued. She consistently visits classrooms to engage with students and provide support to teachers.
Dr. Daniel is a past president of MAESP and currently serves on the Board of Directors for NAESP. We are SO proud of her selection as our 2025 National Distinguished Principal! |
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Way to Go, Dr. Fine!
Congratulations to our president, Dr. Joshua Fine, who was recently recognized as Montgomery County Public Schools Washington Post Principal of the Year.
The Washington Post noted that Dr. Fine has transformed Flower Hill Elementary in Gaithersburg by increasing literacy achievement across all demographic areas and significantly outpacing state and district proficiency levels for Emerging Multilingual Learners. Fine believes that collaboration and teamwork are key to student academic success. He is always open and willing to sit down with teachers to hear new ideas on how to make learning engaging and fun for students. He has an open-door policy with parents and students; he also holds monthly town hall meetings with students. He is rarely in his office because he is often in the bus loop, hallways and classrooms greeting and visiting with students and staff. His positive energy, innovative style and fierce advocacy on behalf of students are contagious.
Dr. Fine was also recognized recently by Montgomery County Public Schools with their Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. The annual award recognizes an MCPS administrator who demonstrates exceptional performance promoting academic excellence, positive human relations, and community outreach.
Congrats, Josh! You've had a great year!
Principal Magazine Shout Outs
The May/June 2025 edition of Principal Magazine included highlights of two of Maryland's finest school leaders. Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket (president elect) and Dr. Sonia Matthew (MAESP executive board member) both appeared in the Book Talk section with their reviews of Baruti Kafele's new book, What is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise? They shared their insights into how the book aligns with leadership practices, empathy, and equity.
Dr. Matthew was also included in the From the Field feature where she answered the question, What skills have you found most useful in leading as an assistant principal? You'll have to read the magazine to find her answer! Finally, Dr. Matthew was also recognized for her selection as Maryland's National Outstanding Assistant Principal.
We are so proud of Dr. Edoho-Eket and Dr. Matthew! They make us look good! |
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Upcoming Events
June 5th- Eastern Shore Leader Celebration- Brew River Restaurant 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
June 26th- MAESP General Membership Meeting 4:00 PM (Virtual Attendance Only)
July 11 - 13 NAESP/NASSP National Conference, Seattle, Washington
November 6 - 8th MAESP/MASSP Fall Leadership Conference, Maryland UNITED, Ocean City, MD |
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New Membership Platform & Website
By now you should have received a few emails encouraging you to create a user login for our new website and association management platform. Please visit this link:
When you create a login, you open up the ability to edit your contact information, register for events, locate other members, refer new members, and access resources from MAESP, and NAESP. It's quick and easy, so please, do it today!
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Click on the UNITED graphic to find out more about registering for the national conference. |
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MSDE & Legislative Updates |
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May statement from MSDE:State Superintendent, State Board President Affirm Commitment to Upholding Civil Rights LawsBALTIMORE (May 2, 2025) — On Thursday, April 3, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) received notice from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) requesting acknowledgment of a document related to Title VI compliance. USED requested that MSDE confirm receipt and review of the request, acknowledge compliance with USED’s terms, and collect certification responses from its local education agencies (LEAs).
All 24 Maryland school systems signed and submitted MSDE’s certification form to affirm their commitment to full compliance with Title VI, as enacted by Congress and interpreted through applicable legal precedent. Today, these signed certifications of compliance were submitted to the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of all Maryland LEAs.
Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Joshua Michael, State Board of Education President, issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to upholding civil rights laws on behalf of Maryland students. The full text is below. “In light of recent actions at the federal level, we want to be clear on our commitment to Maryland schools, students and staff. We are committed to supporting all students and upholding the law.
“Maryland schools are designed to be welcoming, equitable, fair and safe. The rich diversity of our state is the strength of each school community. We are unwavering in our commitment to providing every child, of every background, the education they deserve to succeed and reach their full potential.
“Every student’s individual characteristics are valuable, and we will protect students’ civil rights under the law.
“Above all, our charge remains to ensure that all students have equal access to a high-quality education — all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or language spoken at home.
“Not only is this our moral calling, but Maryland law gives us this charge.
“As we leverage record investments in public education through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, our vision for Maryland students, educators and families is unchanged: a world-class education for all of Maryland’s children. And we’ll do this through high standards, transparency and accountability and strong partnerships.
“That is our commitment to every student in every classroom across our great state.
“Thank you for your continued support. Maryland students are depending on it.” |
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A BIG Thanks to our Business Partners! |
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