Monthly Archives: July 2017

3 Minutes: July 2017

At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Good evening Chairman Gillis, Interim Superintendent White, and members of the board.

I have come full circle. I spent a career in Baltimore County Public Schools as an elementary teacher, middle school teacher, middle school assistant principal, alternative school principal, middle school principal, and finally a high school principal. I have spent the last 11 years at the Maryland State Department of Education researching leadership theory and creating and facilitating professional development opportunities for principals, assistant principals, and executive leadership in all 24 Maryland school districts.

It has been well documented that the single most impact on student growth is the teacher in the classroom. A meta analysis conducted by Rand for New Leaders quantified the teacher impact at 33%. While that may sound low, it is still the most important factor.

While there is a myriad of factors that contribute to the remaining 67%, research has shown that second only to the teacher… the principal, and by extension, the assistant principals, is the second most powerful influence on student achievement. Again, Rand was able to quantify that influence at 25%.

This 58% total influence on student achievement is important because it is a number that is under our control.

Relative to the leadership component, it is important that we continue to identify and develop leadership within the existing employee ranks in a systematic and purposeful fashion to build the bench of future assistant principals, principals, supervisors and coordinators.

If we look at the baseball model, the most successful teams year in and year out have strong minor league systems where players learn the game in the mold of the major league team. Those successful teams then compliment their teams by an occasional free agent who may have a skill set that is missing in the organization.

This process supports team vision, continuity, culture, consistency, and loyalty.

Once promoted, ongoing and purposeful professional development is just as important. Again, baseball teams have spring training every year, as well as batting practice and coaching on a regular basis for all players.

I look forward to working with executive leadership and the Board to help ensure that we recruit and prepare the absolute best candidates and then support their work after their promotion.

25% of student achievement cannot be overlooked. It is after all the reason for our professional existence.

— Tom DeHart, Executive Director

Statement from Tom DeHart

New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of CASE is proud to announce that Tom DeHart is your new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2017. Tom returns to BCPS from MSDE. Tom was a teacher and administrator for our school system for many years, and we are pleased that he has chosen to return. Please join us in welcoming Tom DeHart to the CASE family.

Statement from Tom DeHart

“I have come full circle. I began my career in Baltimore County Public Schools as an elementary teacher many years ago. After teaching at the middle school level, I became a middle school assistant principal, alternative school principal, middle school principal, and finally a high school principal. My last 11 years have been spent at the Maryland State Department of Education researching leadership theory and creating and facilitating professional development opportunities for principals and assistant principals in all 24 Maryland school districts.

“I share my professional journey with you to underscore what I have learned through my experiences: That is, that no matter how much we have grown as a profession and whatever technology, programs, materials or curriculum are developed or provided, we are still a people-driven profession. The relationships we build with our public, parents, students, teachers, principals, central office staff, and executive leadership matter. Relationships are built on the foundation of genuine, transparent communication at all levels—communication that is timely, relevant, and consistent. I am honored to become your new Executive Director, and look forward to working with you to benefit our organization and the children of BCPS.”
— Tom DeHart, Executive Director