HEART OF THE SCHOOL FUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President of the Maryland State Senate
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!"
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."
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, she has created a place where all stakeholders exhibit growth."
Job Titles:
- Baltimore City Council Education Committee