Alban Looks Behind and Ahead
Dr. Terry Alban, Superintendent of Schools for Frederick County, has just been named this year’s Superintendent of the Year by the Maryland Public School Superintendents Association. She came to Frederick County Public Schools in 2011 and her current contract extends to June 2019. Gillian Grozier sat down with her recently to ask her how she views the 2016 - 2017 school year and what she hopes to achieve in 2017 - 2018.
Superintendent Alban named the creation of the LYNX Program as an outstanding achievement. The acronym stands for Linking Youth to New Experiences. The idea behind it is to provide students with the flexibility to acquire proficiency in areas which interest them, and to do so through innovative learning. Local leaders and businesses are invited to partner with FCPS to ensure the skills taught are applicable to today’s workplace.
Alban, pictured right, says she is most proud of how the BOE worked with her to obtain $10,000 in funding for LYNX. If successful, she hopes to expand the program to other FCPS high schools. [photo by Gillian Grozier]
Alban says the BOE has become much more engaged. “Dear to my heart is that people in the community recognize the value of public education, and I have seen a lot more participation in the six years I have been here.”
Alban says the BOE has a much better understanding of how legislation at the state and federal level impacts what goes on in the classroom and how the school district can anticipate mandatory changes that originate in legislation. Alban says the state has established an accountability plan with new standards and new assessments for advocacy, awareness and preparation. A reauthorization of federal law mandates accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
In June, the BOE adopted Policy 443 to provide “welcoming and affirming schools for transgender and gender non-conforming students.” Alban says consistency across schools was needed to ensure that all students thrive in an environment without bullying or discrimination. “As this continues to be a national issue,” Alban says, “I see Policy 443 as a beacon of civility. We will continue to work with administrators to ensure dignity and safety for all our students.”
Focusing on the 2017 - 2018 school year, Alban acknowledges that there are achievement gaps. “Last year’s test scores were not as high as the public would like them to be. Yet we saw some positive trends. FCPS is consistently within the top quartile (25%).” Alban continues, "We need instruction that works for the twenty-first century. We already have a new state accountability system to provide a framework. So how do we get students to take ownership of their own learning? We need student self- advocates, collaborative problem-solvers, and for the BOE we need big picture thinkers.”
In discussing capacity, Alban wonders if FCPS will have the funding to keep up with projected construction growth. County-wide redistricting is already under consideration by the BOE and the 2017 FCPS Facilities Master Plan calls for six redistricting studies over a six-year CIP. “There are going to be pain points in multiple places,” Alban says. However, she points to the collaboration that went on in 2015 between Sugar Loaf and Urbana elementary schools as an effective way to prioritize resources and build a process that works.
