Incoming Baltimore County Superintendent Yarbrough discusses 2023-2024 school year goals

BALTIMORE -- Incoming Baltimore County Superintendent Dr. Myriam Yarbrough addressed education officials Monday morning, discussing her priorities for the 2023-2024 school year.

The address comes after her official appointment in June.

"Our core purpose is increasing achievement for all students, we are here to provide a variety of pathways to prepare students for college and careers," Yarbrough said.

Overall, Yarbrough's priorities will be improving academic achievement for all students, and preparing students for college.

To accomplish that, Yarbrough said she plans to employ "focus, data-driven, research-based, instructionally sound practices and tools that build teacher capacity and promote high levels of learning, and increase student achievement." 

That means, reviewing school year 2022 and 2023 data in all subject areas, and identifying trends in student performance on assessed standards, creating lessons and assessments based on identified needs, and implementing new literacy curriculum and professional development for all elementary teachers, according to Yarbrough.

"It's important to me that the community sees that we are taking urgent action to reverse the trend of declining academic performance and improving climate and operational efficiency," Yarbrough said.

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Additionally, Yarbrough said she also plans to implement improved infrastructure, by enhancing the BCPS customer service portal, prioritizing human resources, and payroll function.    

Yarbrough also said she plans to define clear expectations and establish a shared accountability in promoting safe working environments, which will entail a revision to the student code-of conduct, and finalizing an "elementary assistance safety support model."

Dr. Yarbrough said it's going to take a well-rounded commitment as a district to break through educational deficiencies brought on by the pandemic and the differing needs of students and staff.

"Revising and or creating lessons and formative assessments based on identified needs and implementing new literacy curriculum and professional development for all of our elementary teachers," she said.

The work ahead is quite the task when you think of a staff that accounts for a little more than 7,100 and a student body of more than 111,000.

But for Dr. Yarbrough, adapting to change and being more transparent and accessible with community stakeholders, including parents, is all part of a collective effort to move the district forward.

"It's going to take all of us, so I don't know that I would say one has a heavier weight, other than our students who actually have to demonstrate their learning at the table," she said. "But we need parents, we need caregivers, we need teachers, we need community members that are invested in Baltimore County."