Latest Communications
December 21, 2022: MSD Superintendent Search Process Update
Dear MSD Community:
We want to provide a brief update on the Superintendent search process.
We had the opportunity to host both MSD Superintendent finalists on the Columbia and Frederick campuses last week. They received a warm welcome from the school community. Many thanks to all involved in participating, planning, and hosting these events.
Thanks to those who attended the community forums and for providing your thoughts on the feedback survey. We received a large number of comments from the surveys; the feedback was very helpful in informing the Board of Trustees decision in the selection of MSD's next Superintendent.
Last Friday, the Board of Trustees met and agreed on the next steps for selecting the new Superintendent. The administrative arrangements will take place during the holiday season and break. We appreciate your patience as the board works through this process.
The board will convene on Monday, January 9th to conduct a ratification vote for the selection of MSD's new Superintendent. This meeting and public announcement will be held at the Columbia campus. More information on this event will be shared in an email from the school. We are close to hiring a new superintendent for MSD.
Again, we thank the MSD community for your involvement throughout this search. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Thank you.
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
December 8, 2022: Community Forums
Dear MSD Community:
We acknowledge and appreciate the heartfelt concerns from the community regarding the plans to hold the community forums solely on the Frederick campus.
This decision was in no way intended to dismiss or disregard the importance of the Columbia Campus and its community. We very much regret that people are feeling this way. That is something we never want to see occur.
A lot of thought and deliberation went into planning and scheduling all search activities and events. This search was conducted in a very compressed schedule to be ahead of other school searches, which posed some challenges. For example, the community forums and interviews must be completed within one week to meet the winter break deadline.
The compressed schedule is one factor in limiting our ability to host multiple activities. However, the most significant factor in limiting the forums to one campus location is the cost of Audio/Visual (AV) technical support services to provide a quality live-streamed event.
It is critical to live-stream the forums as we want to make the event accessible to all our stakeholders, regardless of their location, schedule, and personal commitment. By live-streaming the event, we are opening up the forum so that more members of the school and larger communities could attend and learn about each candidate in person or via live-stream.
Unfortunately, MSD does not have the ability or capacity to handle the AV/technical demands of the forums internally, so we had to contract with a professional firm to provide technical support to live-stream the event. The cost of these services is significant. If forums were held on each campus, AV technical support would be required for each location, and the cost would be doubled.
The candidates will get their first impression of MSD at the Columbia campus. Planning this was intentional as we are confident that the Columbia campus community will provide a wonderful first impression and a warm welcome, and the candidates will see for themselves the importance of the campus. Each finalist will spend the first half of the school day at the Columbia campus before visiting the Frederick campus.
We will be sure to share with the finalists that MSD had preferred to host forums on each campus. Hence, they shall understand that both campuses are equally important.
At this stage in the process, we cannot make any changes. We hope people will trust and believe that we tried our best under the circumstances and ask for their understanding and grace. We sincerely hope the community will join us at the community forums — either in person or virtually — and meet-and-greets and join us as we look forward to the appointment of a new superintendent to lead MSD.
Thank you,
Corey Burton
President, MSD Board of the Trustees
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
We acknowledge and appreciate the heartfelt concerns from the community regarding the plans to hold the community forums solely on the Frederick campus.
This decision was in no way intended to dismiss or disregard the importance of the Columbia Campus and its community. We very much regret that people are feeling this way. That is something we never want to see occur.
A lot of thought and deliberation went into planning and scheduling all search activities and events. This search was conducted in a very compressed schedule to be ahead of other school searches, which posed some challenges. For example, the community forums and interviews must be completed within one week to meet the winter break deadline.
The compressed schedule is one factor in limiting our ability to host multiple activities. However, the most significant factor in limiting the forums to one campus location is the cost of Audio/Visual (AV) technical support services to provide a quality live-streamed event.
It is critical to live-stream the forums as we want to make the event accessible to all our stakeholders, regardless of their location, schedule, and personal commitment. By live-streaming the event, we are opening up the forum so that more members of the school and larger communities could attend and learn about each candidate in person or via live-stream.
Unfortunately, MSD does not have the ability or capacity to handle the AV/technical demands of the forums internally, so we had to contract with a professional firm to provide technical support to live-stream the event. The cost of these services is significant. If forums were held on each campus, AV technical support would be required for each location, and the cost would be doubled.
The candidates will get their first impression of MSD at the Columbia campus. Planning this was intentional as we are confident that the Columbia campus community will provide a wonderful first impression and a warm welcome, and the candidates will see for themselves the importance of the campus. Each finalist will spend the first half of the school day at the Columbia campus before visiting the Frederick campus.
We will be sure to share with the finalists that MSD had preferred to host forums on each campus. Hence, they shall understand that both campuses are equally important.
At this stage in the process, we cannot make any changes. We hope people will trust and believe that we tried our best under the circumstances and ask for their understanding and grace. We sincerely hope the community will join us at the community forums — either in person or virtually — and meet-and-greets and join us as we look forward to the appointment of a new superintendent to lead MSD.
Thank you,
Corey Burton
President, MSD Board of the Trustees
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
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December 6, 2022: Superintendent Finalist Community Forums
Next week, MSD will welcome Mr. John A. Serrano and Ms. Taiyabah Naeem, the final candidates for the position of superintendent. Over a three-day period of December 13, 14, and 15, their visits will include campus tours, meetings with students, staff, and administrators, and an interview with the MSD Board of Trustees.
The school community and the larger community are invited to meet and learn about each candidate during a community forum held on the evenings of December 13 and 14. Each will present their vision of transforming MSD through its strengths. This is also an opportunity for the community to ask questions of each candidate and provide feedback on them to the Board of Trustees through the completion of a survey.
While MSD had hoped to offer community events at both campuses, we regret that we cannot offer an in-person event at the Columbia campus due to technology and scheduling constraints. Therefore, the forums will be held at the Frederick campus only. Seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the forum will also be available to view via Zoom webinar. Registration is required to attend either the in-person event or the live-stream.
The community forum will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Ely Auditorium on the Frederick campus. Mr. John A. Serrano will present on Tuesday, December 13, and Ms. Taiyabah Naeem will present on Wednesday, December 14. Please note that the doors open at 6:00 p.m. and close at 6:25 p.m. The forum will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
A Meet & Greet event with the finalist will be held in the Bjorlee Museum following the community forum from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please note the event will end promptly at 8:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
ASL and Spanish interpreters will be provided at both the community forums and meet-and-greets.
Please complete a registration form for each adult attending or viewing the forum. If you are attending the in-person event as a family, please have one member of your party indicate how many children will also be attending.
November 21, 2022: Superintendent Finalist Announcement
The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the following individuals as finalists for the position of Superintendent of MSD: Ms. Taiyabah Naeem and Mr. John A. Serrano. After a thorough review of their qualifications and experience and meeting with the candidates in interviews, Ms. Naeem and Mr. Serrano were enthusiastically recommended by the MSD Superintendent Search Committee.
The next step in the process is for the finalists to visit MSD campuses and interview with the Board of Trustees. These activities will take place in person over a three day period of December 13, 14, and 15. The finalist visits will include campus tours and meetings with students, staff, and administrators. In addition, the school and the larger community will have an opportunity to meet and learn about each finalist during a community forum held on the evenings of December 13 and 14. Candidate interviews with the Board will be held the morning following their respective community forum, on December 14 and 15.
The Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees wishes to recognize and thank the MSD Superintendent Search Committee members for their commitment to and support of this process, as well as the MSD staff and community members who are contributing to the search process. Additionally, we are grateful for the guidance and assistance from our partners from the executive search firm, Innivee Strategies, Inc.
About the Finalists:
Taiyabah Naeem (she/her) has worked for several years as a teacher, project manager, researcher, and education leader. She has a wealth of experience developing policies for school organizations and several research publications. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, to Pakistani Punjabi immigrant parents, Taiyabah worked as the Lead Science Teacher at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Later, she worked as a project manager at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. Taiyabah currently works as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, supporting educators, staff, and deaf and hard of hearing students from all races, ethnicities, and language backgrounds. Taiyabah volunteers at Cascadia Deaf Nation, where she shares her expertise and knowledge on the systematic health inequities and their impact on Deaf, Black Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Taiyabah holds two bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry with a minor in Psychology, University Honors from Gallaudet University, a Master of Science degree in Deaf Education from McDaniel College, and a Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University. Her career is founded on the pedagogies of equitable leadership, inclusiveness, and student and family-centered learning.
John A. Serrano (he/him) is currently the Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Gallaudet University. Prior to his current position at Gallaudet University, he served as the school-level superintendent of Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD), a day school serving over 150 Deaf/DHH students in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, he worked at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) for thirteen years. At TSD, he began his career as an elementary teacher before transitioning to administrative leadership roles such as the High School Principal for four years and the Director of Academic Affairs for five years. A New England native, he graduated from American School for the Deaf (ASD) and attended Gallaudet University, majoring in Elementary Education and Deaf Education. He currently serves as a governing board member for both the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) and the American School for the Deaf. John A. resides in Maryland with his wife, Melly and three children, Natalia (14), AJ (13) and Matthew (6).###
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Finalist Announcement
en español | Anuncio de Finalistas para Superintendentes
October 5, 2022: MSD Announces Formation of Superintendent Search Committee
October 5, 2022: MSD Announces Formation of Superintendent Search Committee
Hello MSD Community,
We are pleased to share that the search committee for the new superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf has been established.
The members are:
- Samantha Bechara - Teacher, Columbia
- Heather Beck - Parent, Columbia
- Tade Cross - Teacher Assistant, Columbia
- Christine DiMarco - Teacher, Frederick
- Alicia Balzer Farias - Teacher, Frederick
- Joshua Finkle - Parent, Frederick
- Charity Jackson - Chief Diversity Officer
- Minja Jung-Sanderlin - Teacher, Columbia
- Matthew Lockhart - Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation
- Tony Middleton - Procurement Officer
- Shannon Negussie - Assistant Principal, Columbia
- Sydney Padgett - Overnight RCYCP Staff, Frederick
- Karin Scribner - Alumni
As you can see, the composition of the committee includes individuals representing the various constituencies across MSD, such as teachers, staff, administration and alumni. By working together with efficiency and professionalism, these individuals will play a critical role in conducting a fair, thorough, and ultimately successful search for the next leader.
Serving on the search committee is a significant voluntary commitment. On behalf of the MSD Board of Trustees and the MSD community, we are grateful and thankful for their involvement and commitment.
If you have any questions or concerns related to the search process, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. If you have recommendations for MSD Superintendent candidates, please send their names directly to Innivee Strategies at [email protected].
As always, we thank you for your interest in and support for this important work.
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Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Formation of Search Committee
en español | Formación del Comité de Búsqueda
September 13, 2022: Now Accepting Applications for the MSD Superintendent Role!
September 13, 2022: Now Accepting Applications for the MSD Superintendent Role!
Dear MSD Community:
We are now accepting applications for the MSD Superintendent role!
We invite you to review the newly updated Maryland School for the Deaf School Prospectus and Superintendent Leadership Profile. It includes information for potential applicants for the position including an overview of the school, the leadership characteristics and capabilities of the ideal candidate, and a description of the required qualifications and the job duties.
The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) Superintendent leadership profile was developed in 2021 with input from nine focus groups representing a diverse makeup of stakeholders from the MSD community, including over 75 participants and over 100 responses to the community survey. The leader profile from 2021 has been updated to reflect the school's current situation and information.
The required qualifications for the MSD superintendent are:
- An individual who is deaf or hard of hearing;
- Bilingual fluency in American Sign Language and written English;
- Master's degree in Deaf Education, Special Education, Educational Administration, Public Administration, or related field or discipline.
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience working directly with Deaf, hard of hearing, and/or special education students.
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a management and leadership role within an educational program for Deaf, hard of hearing, and/or special education students.
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion.
- Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Superintendent I Certification or ability to earn this certification within 3 years of hire date.
MSD is seeking a leader who can:
- Build on the Strengths of MSD
- Provide Innovative, Inspiring, and Transformational Leadership
- Advance the Discipline and Field of Deaf Education
- Advance MSD's Bilingual Education Philosophy
- Unify Both Campuses and Foster a One-School Culture
- Advance Anti-Racist and Anti-Bias Initiatives
- Invest in Community and Professional Relationships and Partnerships
- Shape and Articulate a New Strategic Vision and Future Direction
If you know of an ideal candidate who may be qualified for the Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent, please share the prospectus with them. Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to [email protected]. The deadline for applications is Friday, October 28, 2022 at noon EST.
Please be sure to follow along with the search process by checking out the timeline on the MSD website. More information about the finalist forums will be released in a future search committee update.
As you can see, the work on the search for a new MSD superintendent is moving along. We will provide another update on our progress once we close the application period and begin the interview phase.
Thank you,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Accepting Applications
en español | estamos aceptando solicitudes
August 15, 2022: Nominations for Search Committee
August 15, 2022: Nominations for Search Committee
Dear MSD Community:
The Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees are pleased to share that we have reactivated the search for the next MSD superintendent and are now actively seeking school community members to serve on the search committee.
We are seeking 13 individuals to assist in vetting a robust pool of candidates to fill this important role and invite nominations for consideration to serve as a member of the MSD superintendent search committee. Selections from the nominations will be made to ensure that the composition of the search committee is diverse and representative of the MSD community's key constituent groups. Individuals who served on the previous search committee are welcome to apply for consideration again.
The ideal 15-person search committee will consist of the following members:
- Two BOT member co-chairs: Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
- One administrator/staff from the Orioles Leadership Team (OLT)
- Two teachers from the Frederick campus
- Two teachers from the Columbia campus
- Two staff from the Frederick campus
- Two staff from the Columbia campus
- One parent from the Frederick campus
- One parent from the Columbia campus
- One MSD alumni
- One member from the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation
The nomination form can be found on the website. You may nominate yourself or someone you think would make a contribution to the search process. The deadline to submit a nomination is on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
Please stay tuned for more information regarding the MSD Superintendent search process.
Thank you,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Nominations for Search Committee
en español | Solicitud de nominaciones
August 5, 2022: Superintendent Search Reactivated
August 5, 2022: Superintendent Search Reactivated
Dear MSD Community:
The Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees is pleased to share that the recruitment and search process for the next MSD Superintendent has been reactivated after a year-long hiatus. Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker are the co-chairs for the Superintendent search. During this period, MSD has made some critical strides that better position the school to bring on a new leader. These include elevating the compensation level for the superintendent position, the implementation of new diversity, equity, and inclusion programming, and successful navigation through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Planning for the current search began this spring with the contracting of an executive search firm to assist the Board of Trustees with this effort. We are pleased to be partnering again with Innivee Strategies, Inc., in this important work. Similar to the previous effort, the recruitment and search will be an open and inclusive process that will include critical stakeholders from across the MSD community and periodic communications to update the MSD community on the progress of the search. However, the new plan will follow an expedited timeline compared to the previous effort, leveraging and carrying over any relevant work resulting from the previous search. It is our expectation that this new search will be completed by the end of 2022 or early 2023, with the goal of hiring MSD's new superintendent by or before July 1, 2023.
The next step in the process ill be the formation of a new search committee consisting of individuals representing a cross-section of groups within the MSD community. Please stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on how you may be involved in the MSD Superintendent search process by participating on the search committee.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
Thank you,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Reactivated
en español | búsqueda reactivada
May 10, 2021: MSD Superintendent Search Suspended
May 10, 2021: MSD Superintendent Search Suspended
The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) Board of Trustees has suspended its search for a new superintendent after three finalists identified by the Search Committee withdrew from the process.
In September 2020, the MSD Board of Trustees initiated its search process to appoint a transformative leader to serve as the next superintendent of its school. Throughout the search process, the MSD Board ensured that stakeholders were provided opportunities to engage in this important work. The nationwide search sought a highly qualified educator and inspiring leader to advance MSD in its compelling mission and vision.
After a series of interviews in April, the MSD Superintendent Search Committee voted to nominate three candidates to the MSD Board of Trustees who were highly qualified and met the expectations for the next MSD Superintendent based on the leader profile and job requirements. One candidate withdrew their consideration prior to MSD Board consideration. The Trustees then accepted and approved the remaining two candidates recommended by the search committee during a special meeting on May 6, 2021. Shortly after the special Board of Trustees meeting both finalists withdrew their application.
The MSD Board of Trustees will be meeting virtually in the coming weeks to determine the next steps for the school. In the meantime, Mr. Kevin Strachan, who has served as Interim Superintendent, will continue to serve in this role until the Board makes a decision on how it will handle the interim Superintendent role.
"Thanks to feedback and support from the community, our stakeholders, and partners, we identified three excellent candidates," said Stephen Hlibok, MSD Board Interim President. "While it is unfortunate that this process did not result in a finalist selected and appointed to the superintendent role, we have learned a great deal about what our community envisions for MSD's future and it will inform our decisions on the MSD leadership roles for this coming school year and the search for the next Superintendent. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the MSD Superintendent Search Committee members and the leadership of Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker, search committee co-chairs, for their dedication and time to a search process that was led with the utmost integrity and transparency. I also wish to thank Shane Feldman and his team at Innivee Strategies for their outstanding work in supporting the Superintendent search process."
About Maryland School for the Deaf
Recognized as a flagship school for Deaf and hard of hearing students and the only one of its kind in the state of Maryland, the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) provides comprehensive educational programs and services for eligible Deaf and hard of hearing students. MSD serves and supports over 450 students and their families on two campuses. The Frederick campus, founded in 1868, serves students from birth through 21 years of age, and the Columbia campus, established in 1973, serves students from birth through 8th grade. MSD strives to provide an equitable and exemplary education for all students in a nurturing, engaging, and challenging environment, ensuring that students achieve personal excellence and become responsible lifelong learners. MSD's mission is to provide American Sign Language (ASL) and English language models for early acquisition, and to provide linguistically enriched ASL and English environments for the attainment of fluency in both languages. The Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees is the policy-making body responsible for the governance and strategic operations of the school and oversees the work of the superintendent. For more information about the Maryland School for the Deaf, please visit www.msd.edu.
About Innivee Strategies, Inc.
Innivee Strategies, Inc. provides organizations with systemic frameworks that enables them to build a strong strategic decision toward their desired vision. We engage leaders and stakeholders in collaborating together to choose the best governance model, set leadership, staff, and volunteer expectations, align and optimize resources, and manage change. Innivee Strategies is a leading search firm in the recruitment and placement of executives and leaders of organizations that serve the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Our services also include Effective Governance, Organizational Assessment, Strategic Planning, Change Management, Executive Support Systems, Leadership Development, and Guided Facilitation. Please visit our website at www.innivee.com to learn about our clients and their testimonies about how our services have benefited their organizations.
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Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Suspended
April 28, 2021: Superintendent Search Update
April 28, 2021: Superintendent Search Update
Dear MSD Community,
We are pleased to share this update on the progress of the search for the new Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) superintendent, as well as the activities that are scheduled to take place over the next two months.
Over the course of a two-week period, the fifteen members of the MSD Superintendent search committee who come from a range of key constituent groups including staff, parents, and alumni engaged in the first stage of candidate interviews. Through these interviews, committee members had the opportunity to learn more about the candidates' qualifications and experiences, as well as the skills and competencies they may bring to the superintendent role.
The committee was enthused and impressed with the caliber of professionals interested in leading MSD and becoming a part of our community. Additionally, the pool of candidates comprises racial, gender, and experiential diversity, which was an essential value and priority shared by the MSD Board of Trustees and the MSD community through the community survey and the focus groups held earlier this year.
After thorough review and deliberations regarding the candidates, the search committee will submit to the Board of Trustees a list of candidates that they recommend for advancement to the finalist status. The committee's finalist recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Trustees prior to a closed session Board meeting where trustees will approve the finalists. A public announcement of the finalists will be shared with the MSD community on or around May 10th.
During the week of May 24-27, the finalists will engage in the second stage of activities which will include an open community forum and forums with the Orioles Leadership Team, the Community Work Group team leaders and representatives, and a group of middle school and high school students representing both campuses. Details regarding the finalist community forums will be shared with the MSD community at the same time the finalists are announced.
The Board of Trustees is scheduled to conduct their interviews with the finalists in special, closed session meetings and is expected to make a decision regarding the selected candidates in June.
As you can see, we continue to move forward and closer to the finish line with this very important work! Barring no unforeseen changes or disruptions, we hope that the MSD Board of Trustees will announce the new MSD Superintendent by July 1, 2021.
Please stay tuned for more information regarding the finalist community forums during the second week of May.
Sincerely,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Update
en español | Actualización sobre la Búsqueda del Superintendente
March 2, 2021: Superintendent Search Update
March 2, 2021: Superintendent Search Update
Dear MSD Community,
We are pleased to provide an update on the progress made in our preparations for the recruitment and hiring of a new superintendent of MSD.
First, and most exciting of all, is the release of the Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent Search Prospectus! The MSD Superintendent prospectus includes key information for potential applicants for the position including an overview of the school, a profile of the leadership characteristics and capabilities of the ideal candidate, and a description of the required qualifications and the job duties. We have an ASL version of the prospectus and it can be found on the website. The team that worked on this project did a fantastic job -- most especially Amy Mowl, MSD's director of public relations!
The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) Superintendent leader profile was developed with input from nine focus groups representing a diverse makeup of stakeholders from the MSD community, including over 75 participants and 100 responses to the community survey. The MSD Board of Trustees and the Search Committee are appreciative and grateful for the community's contributions to MSD's Superintendent search process.
If you know of an ideal candidate who may be qualified for the Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent, please share the prospectus and website with them. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. The deadline for applications is March 24, 2021.
We also want to take this opportunity to provide the following updates regarding the search process:
- The MSD search committee held its fourth meeting on Friday, February 5, 2021 to begin the process of developing the interview process and questions. This work will be completed prior to the interviews which are scheduled to take place in April 2021.
- During the February 5th meeting, the search committee welcomed a new member, Garri Azrelyant. Garri is replacing Michelle Core as the Frederick campus parent representative. We look forward to working with Garri. We appreciate the contributions Michelle made during her time with the search committee. Thank you, Michelle!
- Please be sure to check out the search process timeline on the MSD website. It was recently updated to reflect date changes that better align with the school schedule and ensure that the MSD community and stakeholders are able to attend the finalist forums. More information about the finalist forums will be released in a future search committee update.
As you can see, the work on the search for a new MSD superintendent is moving ahead. We will provide another update on our progress once we close the application period and begin the interview phase.
Sincerely,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Update
en español | Actualización sobre la Búsqueda del Superintendente
January 6, 2021: Leader Profile Community Survey
January 6, 2021: Leader Profile Community Survey
Dear MSD Community,
The Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees has initiated the search process for the next MSD Superintendent. Innivee Strategies, Inc., an executive search consulting firm, has been contracted to assist us with this important work. In preparing for the recruitment of potential candidates, we wish to learn from the school's community and stakeholders about the ideal qualifications and attributes that are needed in MSD's next superintendent.
The deadline to respond to the survey is Friday, January 22, 2021, at midnight EST.
This survey asks four questions which consultants from Innivee Strategies will analyze and use to compile into a description and leadership profile for the ideal candidate for the position of MSD Superintendent. Each question has a video that translates the question into American Sign Language (ASL) and the content is translated into written Spanish.
Once you understand each question, select your response via text OR upload your video response to YouTube. The YouTube link should be "unlisted" and the link should be pasted into the text in response to the survey question. Your video should be no longer than one minute.
A summary of the survey results will be shared publicly in conjunction with the MSD Superintendent job announcement that will be shared with prospective candidates and the community.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely yours,
Akilah English
Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Click HERE to complete the online survey.
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Leader Profile Community Survey
en español | Encuesta Comunitaria sobre el Liderazgo
January 4, 2021: Focus Groups
January 4, 2021: Focus Groups
Dear MSD Community,
In an effort to gather feedback from the MSD community before issuing a call for applications for the new superintendent of MSD, our executive search consulting firm, Innivee Strategies, Inc., will host a series of confidential focus groups during the month of January 2021.
These focus groups will provide students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts on the qualifications and attributes that are needed in the next MSD superintendent and what the new leader's top priorities should be. This information is important to our process as it will help to shape the recruitment and evaluation of prospective candidates for the position.
The focus groups will be led by Mr. Shane Feldman and Dr. Onudeah Nicolarakis of Innivee Strategies, Inc., You can learn about the focus group facilitators at:
Focus group members will be selected based on the available space for each focus group date and the composition of each focus group. There are four total open focus group dates to choose from, and they are:
- Saturday, January 16 from 9:00 to 10:30am
- Tuesday, January 19 from 4:30 to 6:00pm
- Thursday, January 21 from 7:00 to 8:30pm
- Friday, January 22 from 12:00 to 1:30pm
The deadline to RSVP for the focus group is midnight, Monday, January 11, 2021.
In addition to the four open focus groups, there are two restricted focus groups. The restricted focus groups will be for MSD students and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) teachers, staff, and families. The student focus group will allow students the opportunity to have space in which they can share their thoughts among peers. The focus group for BIPOC will be led solely by Dr. Nicolarakis to ensure the space is safe for BIPOC participants. The dates for the student and BIPOC participants will be coordinated by the school administration and superintendent search co-chairs.
To ensure that participants feel safe and comfortable in sharing their thoughts, it is important that everyone honors a commitment to confidentiality. Therefore, if you are selected for a focus group, you will be required to sign a focus group confidentiality form. The focus groups will be recorded only for the purpose of note-taking and follow-up; they will not be shared outside of the search consultants and the recordings will be deleted once the recruitment materials have been developed and published.
All focus groups will be conducted in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL-Spoken English interpreters will be provided. If you have any requests for accommodations for Deaf-blind interpreting, Spanish interpreting, captioning services, or other similar services, please email [email protected] by January 11, 2021.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected].
Sincerely yours,
Akilah English
Krista Leitch Walker
MSD Superintendent Search Co-Chairs
Click HERE to RSVP for the MSD Superintendent Focus Groups
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Focus Groups
en español | Grupos Focales
December 10, 2020: Executive Search Firm
December 10, 2020: Executive Search Firm
Dear MSD Community,
We are pleased to share that the MSD Board of Trustees has engaged Innivee Strategies, Inc., a deaf-owned national consulting firm to assist in MSD's search for its 11th superintendent.
Selected through a competitive process, the Board selected Innivee Strategies as the most qualified for this project given their experience in consulting on executive searches for other schools and programs for the deaf, coupled with their expertise in management, human resources, and organizational development. Additionally, their approach in engaging community stakeholders beyond the search committee through a variety of strategies and formats is in alignment with the philosophy and expectations of the Board and search co-chairs for the MSD superintendent search.
A team of consultants, led by CEO Shane Feldman, will help to shape the overall strategy and process, will actively recruit a highly qualified and diverse pool of candidates, and will provide guidance to the co-chairs and the members of the search committee at each stage of the process.
We are excited that this important milestone has been achieved and look forward to the work ahead with the search committee and Innivee Strategies in identifying highly qualified, visionary, and transformational candidates through an engaged, community-wide process.
For more information about the executive search firm, please visit the MSD Superintendent Search website.
Sincerely,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Co-chairs, MSD Superintendent Search
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Executive Search Firm
en español | Firma de Búsqueda Ejecutiva
November 11, 2020: Superintendent Search Committee
November 11, 2020: Superintendent Search Committee
Dear MSD Community,
We are pleased to share with you the members of the search committee for the Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent. We appreciate their willingness to serve and to invest their time in this important search at this very challenging time of the year.
The committee members are:
- Akilah English, Co-Chair - Board of Trustees Member
- Krista Leitch Walker, Co-Chair - Board of Trustees Member
- Heather Beck - Parent, Columbia
- Tamara Jo Coleman - Teacher, Frederick
- Cheri Dowling - Coordinator, Family Support & Resource Center, Columbia
- Nicole Goldberg - Teacher, Columbia
- Carina Hed-Edington - Teacher, Columbia
- Jo Ann Mackinson - School Counselor, Columbia
- Brandon McMillan-Muszynski - Teacher, Frederick
- Ann Miller - Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
- Lisa Pershan - IEP Coordinator, Frederick
- Karen Price-William - Alumni
- Lisa Smith - School Social Worker, Frederick
- Trudy Suggs - Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation Board of Director
- Michelle Vore - Parent, Frederick
We would like to remind you that the search committee is just one way for community members to be involved with and contribute to the search and selection of a new superintendent. There are other ways for you to be involved with the search process. We hope that you will consider participating in one of the community forums and completing the survey that will be conducted in a few weeks. These are important ways that you can provide input on the ideal competencies and characteristics for the future leader of MSD. Information regarding the community forums and survey will be shared with the MSD community in the next few weeks.
As for the executive search consultant that will work with the search committee and the Board of Trustees for the recruitment and hiring of the new superintendent of MSD, the proposal review process is nearly completed. A recommended firm will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval at their meeting on November 13th, with a public announcement to be made shortly thereafter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. As always, thank you for your important work.
Thank you.
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker, Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Committee
en español | Comité de Búsqueda de Superintendente
October 8, 2020: Update on the Superintendent Search
October 8, 2020: Update on the Superintendent Search
Dear MSD Community,
We are pleased to provide an update on the progress made in our preparations for the recruitment and hiring of a new superintendent of MSD.
Search Committee
We received over 40 nominations and applications for search committee members. While we are thrilled that so many community members are interested and willing to volunteer their time for this important work, it also poses a challenge as the committee will be limited to approximately 15 members. In determining the composition of the committee, we must be mindful to ensure that the members are representative of the diverse identities, roles, experiences, and perspectives of the community. We expect to have notifications sent out to the nominees/applicants by the week of October 12 - 16, 2020.
While not all nominees/applicants will have the opportunity to serve on the committee, we will be providing other ways for people to be involved and contribute to the process. Keep an eye out for more information to come!
Executive Search Consultant
On Friday, October 2nd, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued for an executive search consultant to assist with the recruitment and hiring of the new superintendent of MSD. The search consultant serves as a neutral expert, providing guidance and support to the search committee and the Board of Trustees throughout the process. Some of the tasks the consultant will perform include developing advertising materials; networking and recruiting potential candidates; screening applications for minimum qualifications; and coordinating the interviewing process.
Individuals interested in reviewing the Superintendent Search RFP or in submitting a proposal should visit the Office of State Procurement's eMaryland Market Place Advantage (eMMA) website. The due date for proposals is Thursday, October 22, 2020, with a selection targeted for the week of November 2 - 6, 2020. An announcement will be made regarding the selection of the executive search consultant shortly thereafter.
As promised, we will continue to keep the MSD community informed as things progress. Should you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected].
Thank you for your interest and support.
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Co-chairs, MSD Superintendent Search
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Update on the Superintendent Search
en español | Actualización sobre la Búsqueda del Superintendentes
September 24, 2020: Superintendent Search Committee
September 24, 2020: Superintendent Search Committee
Hello MSD Community,
We know that it is critical to a successful search process for us to gain input from a diverse group of stakeholders in the Maryland School for the Deaf community, on an individual and group basis. One way for the community's involvement is to serve on the MSD superintendent search committee. We want to ensure that the superintendent search committee is diverse and representative of the MSD community. As a result, we are seeking 15 individuals to join the search committee representing a wide array of constituencies throughout the MSD community.
Unfortunately, to date, we have received only a few applications/nominations from the Columbia campus. It is very important that the Columbia Campus has a "voice" in the process through representation on the search committee. We are currently looking for a total of five (5) representatives from the Columbia Campus: two teachers, two staff, and one parent.
Because we need to have an adequate pool of applications/nominations to ensure well representation from both campuses, we are extending the deadline to apply. The new deadline is Friday, October 2, 2020 and we are still accepting applications from both Frederick and Columbia campuses. The nomination form can be found on the website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Thank you,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Superintendent Search Committee
en español | Comité de Búsqueda de Superintendente
September 18, 2020: Letter to the Community
September 18, 2020: Letter to the Community
Dear MSD Community,
We are honored to have been appointed to lead the recruitment and search for a new superintendent of Maryland School for the Deaf. The superintendent serves as an essential role in leading the strategic direction and culture of the organization, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the school. As a result, finding a highly qualified and transformational leader is a major endeavor and should follow a process that engages the many constituencies of the community. An active search committee, composed of efficient, diverse, and engaged stakeholders, is an essential factor in a successful search.
We are seeking 15 individuals to assist in vetting a robust pool of candidates to fill this important role and invite nominations for consideration to serve as a member of the MSD superintendent search committee. Selections from the nominations will be made to ensure that the composition of the search committee is diverse and representative of the MSD community.
The 15-person search committee will consist of the following members:
- Two co-chairs: Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
- Two teachers from Frederick campus
- Two teachers from Columbia campus
- Two staff from Frederick campus
- Two staff from Columbia campus
- One parent from Frederick campus
- One parent from Columbia campus
- One MSD alumni
- One member from the Maryland State Department of Education or the Governor's Office
- One member from the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation
The nomination form can be found on the website. The deadline to submit a nomination is on Friday, September 25, 2020.
In October and November, the MSD Superintendent Search Committee (MSSC) will meet with different stakeholders through focus groups and conduct an online survey to solicit input. The information gleaned from those activities will help the MSSC to create a Leadership Profile that will be used in recruiting applicants for the position. The Leadership Profile may include:
- Desired educational background and work experience
- Leadership and management philosophies and styles
- Essential personal qualities
- Values, beliefs, and characteristics
- Priority issues facing MSD, the education of Deaf students, and the K-12 landscape
We are both committed to transparency and integrity throughout the entire process and thank everyone in advance for their engagement during this transformational time at the Maryland School for the Deaf. We will keep the community informed as the search for a new superintendent progresses and encourage you to check the website for updates.
Please visit the website for more information: www.msd.edu/superintendentsearch/
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
Thank you,
Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
Co-Chairs
Letter in ASL | Watch ASL Video
PDF in English | Letter to the Community
en español | Carta a la comunidad de MSD
September 14, 2020: Superintendent Search
September 14, 2020: Superintendent Search
The MSD Board of Trustees initiated its search process to appoint a transformative leader to serve as the next superintendent of Maryland School for the Deaf. Throughout the search process, stakeholders will have opportunities to engage in this important work. Please continue to check this webpage for updates.
Signed in ASL by MSD Board members Akilah English and Krista Leitch Walker
en español | transcripción de vídeo
Krista Leitch Walker