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2016 heart of the School Awards

WINNERS

Chris Battaglia 

Benjamin Franklin High School at

Masonville Cove


Chris Battaglia truly values the importance of building relationships and trust with his students and staff. The “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” philosophy that he has engrained into his school’s culture asks the school community to care for one another and provide support when challenges (either in-classroom or out) arise. This intentional school culture has helped lead to a marked increase in enrollment (from 230 kids when Mr. Battaglia arrived to close to 500 currently), and improved student achievement, including higher SAT scores. The transformation of Benjamin Franklin High School from a school that was twice a possibility for closure (in 2008 and 2011) to a National Community School awardee in 2015 is a testament to Mr. Battaglia’s success as a principal, and breeds hope in the school and the community for even bigger things to come. As a staff member at his school said “He has made it possible for us to dream and that is what we do every single day!”

Chris Battaglia Award Winner

Tamika Daniels

George W.F. McMechen High School in Dorchester/Ashburton


Tamika Daniels lives her school’s mission of doing “Whatever It Takes” to help her students. As the leader of McMechen, a specialized high school that serves students with disabilities, Ms. Daniels has secured resources and built partnerships to ensure that her students’ needs are met. She invested funds to build a sensory room where students who are experiencing high anxiety can calm down. She has also fostered relationships with local businesses to provide students with job shadowing opportunities that allow them to build life skills. Ms. Daniels’ clear investment in and love for her students has been recognized by parents, as their Parent Teacher Organization has grown from 2-3 parents per meeting to 25 parents currently (in a school with 60 students). This respect is also shown from her teachers, one of whom wrote the following: “Ms. Tamika Daniels is a tireless advocate for her students and her staff. She has not only fostered an environment for learning, but she has also created a place where all stakeholders exhibit growth.”

Tamika Daniels Award Winner

Mary Donnelly

John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School in East Highlandtown


Mary Donnelly has served Baltimore City students as a district employee for the past 42 years. Ms. Donnelly has overseen a period of major demographic change for the school, including a tremendous growth in enrollment (from 200 to 826 students as part of a conversion to K-8) and an increase in the percentage of students for whom English is a second language. She has adapted her leadership style to address the changing needs of her school community and works tirelessly to make her school a welcoming and safe space that address the needs of all children and families. As a community partner put it, “Ms. Donnelly has worked to ensure that all families are included in school and feel that they can participate in their child's learning.”

Mary Donnelly Award Winner Pic

Najib Jammal

Lakeland Elementary/Middle School in Lakeland


Najib Jammal is an active leader who inspires his students, staff, and parents. According to a community partner, “Najib has worked tirelessly to create a school that values innovation, high expectations, quality learning, dedicated staff, and solid community partnerships.” In an effort to address the varied needs of his students, Mr. Jammal values and develops partnerships to provide opportunities for his students and to support and enrich the work of teachers. An example of this is a partnership with Northrup Grumman to support the school’s work with UMBC to build a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics) learning lab. Mr. Jammal works hard every day to ensure that Lakeland is a safe, welcoming place where students, staff, and the community can work and learn together.

Najib Jammal Award Winner

Rochelle Machado

Arundel Elementary/Middle School in Cherry Hill


Rochelle Machado shows love for her students, teachers, and parents every day. The door to her office is always open, although she spends more time in the hallways and classes interacting with her children and teachers. She believes in praise, as demonstrated by the Monday Message she regularly sends to teachers and the staff shout out board that Ms. Machado approved to be posted at the main entrance of the school where teachers leave messages of praise for each other. Arundel hosts monthly “Chat and Chews” for parents to come together and talk about issues that they feel are important. One of her teachers sums all of this up beautifully: “She is a real life superwoman in our school who genuinely and truly cares about the school, teachers, parents, and the community.”

Rochelle Machado Award Winner

HONOREES

Heart of the Schools Awards 2016 Winners and Honorees

Federico Adams

William Pinderhughes Elementary/Middle School in Sandtown


Federico Adams comes from a family of Baltimore City Public Schools principals and is an expert identifier and leader of talent. According to a community partner, “Mr. Adams’ personal vision and mission doesn’t stop with the students; he is also that peer leader to his colleagues, staff, partners and friends.” He has transformed his school both physically and culturally, ensuring his students believe in themselves and know that they can achieve their goals. Mr. Adams gets to know each student’s situation out of school, pushes them to explore their interests, and makes sure that every student visits a college campus by third grade!


Tonya Combs-Redd

Yorkwood Elementary School in Loch Raven


Tonya Combs-Redd recognizes the importance of effective communication and works to ensure that she hears her school community. This tone was set at the beginning of her tenure, as she brought the school community together to develop the vision and mission statement for the school, and is reinforced each year as the community is invited to revisit the vision/mission and make adjustments as needed. Her two-way communication strategy to include space for comments and feedback on any materials that are sent home has built trust with the community and increased parent engagement. She is very data-driven and has instilled this belief in her staff as well. Ms. Combs-Redd is deeply devoted to her school and students, which does not go unnoticed by her school community. This is summed up well by one of her teachers: “Ms. Redd's transformational leadership has encouraged staff to stay, students to love going to school and our community to remain engaged.” 


James Dendinger

Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle School in Federal Hill


James Dendinger has engaged parents and his community in the success of his school. When he became principal, there were three parents in the Parent Teacher Organization. Now, meetings are regularly attended by 40-50 parents and there are over 100 parents who are actively involved in the school community. Much of this success can be attributed to his open-door policy with parents and his caring personality. As one parent said, “He has made such a tremendous impact on our children, the school & the community. He is extremely professional yet is very approachable.” Under his leadership, the school has grown from 340 to 550 students, and he has increased the number of school partners dramatically. Mr. Dendinger is a hands-on leader who attends and participates in teacher and data meetings, and cares deeply about the success of the school and its students.


Job Grotsky

Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School in Bolton Hill

 

Job Grotsky brings a relentless positivity to his school that has permeated throughout the community. As one parent wrote, “His enthusiasm for school and for our children is contagious! He believes in his students and works tirelessly to create opportunities for their continued growth.” He wants students, parents, and the community to feel welcome in the school and has conducted extensive community outreach to invite them in. He’s also very visible in the community, whether it is greeting parents and students during drop off in the morning or working on the school grounds installing benches and flower boxes on the weekends. His teachers appreciate his supportive leadership style and want to remain part of the team; he has greatly decreased teacher turnover and increased stability. He is committed to his students, teachers, and community, and it shows in the passion he has for his work.


Amber Kilcoyne

Two years at Medfield Heights Elementary School in Medfield


Amber Kilcoyne excels at assessing and then addressing student needs. Ms. Kilcoyne leads a school with students from 19 countries with a variety of academic and non-academic needs. One of her strategies for personalizing their learning is Power Hour, which provides reading-level appropriate intervention for every child, every day. As one of her students puts it, “Mrs. Kilcoyne has done a lot for us. […] She will listen to all of our ideas. She is so nice, and treats us equally.” Ms. Kilcoyne also seeks feedback from her teachers and parents, and acts on their recommendations, including making changes to the entrance of the school.


Benjamin Mosley

Glenmount Elementary/Middle School in Hamilton


Benjamin Mosley is a leader with a constant focus on what is best for his students. He believes strongly in the importance of building relationships with his students, teachers, and families in order to understand what their needs are, which goes beyond what data can show him. In the words of one of his teachers, “Mr. Mosley doesn't just lead the school, he wants teachers to be an active participant in the success of the school and he values feedback whether good or bad.” Under his leadership, Glenmount has increased parental involvement by establishing parent programs and treating parents as partners who play a vital part in the decision making for the school. Mr. Mosley has also worked with his school community to increase the amount of student activities available, including the creation of a Homecoming Week for the school. Mr. Mosley greets everyone with a smile and treats everyone with respect, which has helped him earn the respect of the school community he serves.


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