Joe A. Hairston, Ed.D
6 falling
Phone: 410-887-4281 • Fax: 410-308-0485
e-mail:joehairston@comcast.net
Capability Summary
A visionary and progressive education leader nationally renowned for achievements in high school reform, using technology in supporting student achievement, raising overall student achievement, reducing the achievement gap for minority students, and increasing college enrollment among graduating seniors. Contributed to the development of No Child Left Behind.
Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
The
Professional Experience
Superintendent
Baltimore County
Public Schools, Towson,
Serve as the chief administrative
officer of Baltimore County Public Schools and secretary/treasurer of the Board
of Education. Supervise 172 schools, programs and
centers, 17,000 full and part-time employees, and 104,000 students, and develop
and manage $1.5 billion budget.
Key
Accomplishments
§
Honored with the 2006
Graduate Alumni Achievement Award from the
§
Leading school system
to highest level of student achievement ever: with rising SAT scores and greater
student participation in and success on Advanced Placement exams.
§
Recognized by the
Schott Foundation for having a higher graduation rate for African American males
than any other large school district in the nation.
§ Introduced the Blueprint for Progress, an articulation of the school system’s direction and goals and the foundation for the system’s Master Plan.
§
Eliminated low level
courses and established culture of higher expectations and greater opportunity
for all students.
§
Made pre-college testing in PSAT, SAT, and ACT
available to every high school student, through partnership with College Board.
§ Implemented AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) initiative to more than half of the county’s high schools to place underachieving students and students from low-income families on a college-bound track.
§
Presided over the largest school renovation and
major maintenance program in
§ Invested an initial $9 million to install a Dell platform with T1 connectivity at every system site, including every school and more than 32 office sites, and invested millions more in additional technology and professional development and support.
§ Named one of the nation’s Top Ten Tech-Savvy Superintendents by eSchool News.
§ Received International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) 2005 Award for Outstanding Leadership.
§ Presented with ET3 Technology to Empower Community (TEC) Champion Leadership Award, a national honor.
§ Presented with the MICCA 2005 Outstanding Technology Leader in Education Award, a statewide honor.
§
Entered partnership with
UMBC, under a National Science Foundation Grant, that
addresses the issue of recruiting and retaining high quality teachers.
§
Opened the county’s
first new high school in 25 years.
§
Presented
§
Received 2006
Superintendent of the Year Award from The Fullwood Foundation.
§
Initiated an external
curriculum management audit of the school system.
Superintendent
Administered the school
system, including supervising 50 principals
and schools, 5,800 employees, and more than 45,600 students.
Key Accomplishments
§
Raised $381 million
for school construction and technology by successfully passing two sales tax
referendums.
§
Achieved 100 point
rise in average SAT scores in county.
§
Selected as one of 20
school superintendents from the Southeast for the prestigious BellSouth
Superintendents Leadership Network, a two-year program of institutes in which
participants examine emerging issues in education reform.
§
Generated a College
Board Collaborative supporting excellence and equity in the secondary
instructional program.
§
Improved teacher
salaries to outpace most metropolitan Atlanta-area school systems. Expanded
county-paid supplements to include credit for years of experience outside of
§
Activated an
instructional network in all Clayton County Public Schools, with a networked
computer in every classroom.
§
Introduced a new
student test data management system to help teachers and other instructional
staff assess the strengths and weaknesses of students.
§
Formed a Think Tank,
consisting of 50
§
Instituted a middle
school reading program to incorporate 45 minutes of content related reading
instruction daily in grades 6, 7, and 8.
§
Launched Academies of
Finance at three high schools.
§
Established and
implemented a system-wide reorganization to increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of day-to-day operations.
§
Introduced
performance-based certified employee evaluation.
§
Increased professional
development opportunities for leadership by establishing an annual principals’
three-day retreat and initiating a two-day Transformational Leadership seminar
in effective leadership techniques (offered at IBM) for all principals and
executive staff members.
§
Implemented Project
Decision, a discipline program in which, in lieu of out-of-school suspension,
middle school students received behavioral counseling and completed outdoor
beautification projects.
§
Initiated use of
“Symphony on Styles” staff development course. This comprehensive course,
dealing with learning styles, brain research, and lesson design, provides a
comprehensive approach for teachers to better instruct students.
§
Established Indicators
of Progress to measure improvement of instruction and student learning.
§
Expanded outreach to
the community by forming a Business-Education Roundtable, establishing an annual
Community Banquet, engaging senior citizens as school volunteers, distributing
copies of positive news articles to key community leaders, and allocating funds
(at the rate of $1 per student) to aid schools in implementing
communication/community relations initiatives.
§
Originated the first
Clayton County School System web pages on the Internet.
§
Expanded programming
on Media One Cable Channel 24 beyond the bulletin board format to include
messages from the superintendent, the Clayton County Schools Today TV Show,
videos featuring district programs, and school performances.
§
Collaborated with the
Chamber of Commerce and
Assistant
Superintendent,
Area V
Prince
George’s County Board of Education, Upper Marlboro,
Supervised principals in 33 schools, with 22,000
students and 1,987 teachers, representing one-fifth of the school district and
serving a broad socioeconomic range.
Key Accomplishments
§
Instituted a pilot
science program with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Expanded the initiative through the entire system for the 1995 school year and
served as co-principal for a $1.3 million NSF grant aimed at systemic reform for
minorities.
§
Successfully completed
the
§
Cited in
Life magazine education article,
“Revolutionary Steps to Better Education,” by John Weisman.
Assistant
Superintendent,
Area IV
Prince
George’s County Board of Education, Upper Marlboro,
Evaluated and supervised the performance of three
high, three middle, 20 elementary and three alternative schools.
Key Accomplishments
§
Received the National
Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education’s Distinguished Alumni
Citation of the Year.
§
Participated on a
panel in
§
Received award from
President George Bush at a White House ceremony honoring
§
Honored by Maryland
Governor William Donald Schaefer and
Principal
Managed an initially low-performing high school with
150 teachers and 2,296 students.
Key Accomplishments
§
Implemented the
organizational, instructional, and marketing model developed at
§
Raised academic
achievement at the school, raising the passing rate on the Maryland Functional
Math Test from 37 to 66.5 percent, on the Maryland Functional Writing Test from
28 percent to 87 percent (in just two years), and outperforming all schools in
the county when 98 percent of ninth graders passed the Maryland Functional
Reading Test (up from 90 percent the year before). Reduced dropout rate to just
2 percent.
§
Led the school to earn
a National Award of Excellence.
§
Introduced a
management model that was recognized by President Ronald Reagan and then
Vice-President George Bush as well as Secretary of Education William J. Bennett.
§
Honored with the
Distinguished Educational Leadership Award sponsored by
The
§
Presided on a panel
with President Ronald Reagan, who visited the
§
Invited as one of ten
U.S. principals to participate in an Urban Principal Conference at
§
Selected as one of 30
§
Received the Special
Merit Award from the National Association of School Security Directors for
outstanding contributions to ensuring a safe educational environment.
§
Received the
Distinguished Leadership and Innovative Educational Program Award from the
Principal
Responsible for a 2,100-student high school needing
instructional improvement and experiencing waning confidence from the community.
Key Accomplishments
§
Established formula
for school reform which resulted in Crossland High becoming one of the premier
schools in
§
Joined a group of
researchers and authorities on the effective schools literature to examine the
research and its implications.
§
Chaired the Leadership
Training Committee, which designed a program to select, train and evaluate all
new administrative and supervisory positions in the school district.
§
Received training from
the Maryland State Department of Education and the National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to become an assessor for the Principal’s
Principal
Assumed leadership of school with an existing $6,000
budget deficit and a demoralized staff with very little confidence in the
students.
Key Accomplishments
§
Developed a management
model that later became the norm for implementing any school reform initiative
by principals.
§
Cleared the deficit by
January 1982.
§
Initiated an
“effective schooling” instructional program, and revived parent, staff, and
student confidence.
Vice
Principal
Provided administrative support to the principal by
observing and evaluating classroom teacher performance and supervising student
activities and all building maintenance.
Key Accomplishment
§
Extended
responsibilities far beyond the normal assignments of a vice principal.
Administrative Assistant
Supported the principal by supervising all student
activities and classroom instruction.
Key Accomplishment
§
Served as a liaison
between the school and community during a very tense period of community unrest.
Teacher
Prince
George’s County,
Key Accomplishments
§
Became first black
head football coach in the county after court-ordered desegregation.
§
Taught physical
education, biology, and health.
§
Taught at elementary,
junior high, and high school levels.
§
Hand-picked to a staff
of 50 teachers assigned to open a new school.
§
Appointed chairperson
of a physical education department.
Professional Affiliations
Current
American Association of School Administrators
1977-present
Association of School Curriculum & Development
1990-present
Baltimore County Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council
2003-present
Baltimore County Executive’s Advisory Board on Higher Education
2000-present
BellSouth Superintendents Leadership Network
1997-present
Center for Leadership and School Reform
1995-present
Children’s Cancer Foundation Board of Directors
2000-present
Clayton College & State University Foundation
Trustee, Ex-Officio
1995-present
Clayton County Rotary Club
1995-present
The College Board Superintendent Advisory Panel
2006-present
The College Board Middle States Regional Council
2001-present
The College Board
1996-present
Education Research & Development Institute
2001-present
Chair, Superintendents Board of Directors
2007-present
Education Subcommittee
1989
Ex-Officio
1995-present
Governor’s Task Force to Study Raising
the
Attendance Age to 18
2006-present
Horace Mann League of the USA Board of Directors
2007-present
Johns Hopkins University School of Education Advisory
Board
2007-present
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
1969-present
Learning Project Steering Committee
Magnet Schools of America
2001-present
Maryland Institute for Minority Achievement and Urban
Education
2000-present
2004-present
Maryland State Department of Education Web-based
Learning Project
2000-present
National Alliance of Black School Educators
1995-present
National Association of Secondary School Principals
1980-present
National Council on Educating Black Children
2005-present
National Federation of Urban and Suburban School
Districts
2000-present
National School Board Association
1995-present
Phi Delta Kappa (Virginia Tech Chapter)
1989-present
Phi Delta Kappa
1987-present
Scholastic Administr@tor magazine Editorial Advisory Board 2008-present
School Actions for Emergencies (SAFE) Center Web Site Charter Advisory Board
2006-present
State
United Way in Clayton County Advisory Board
1998-present
Committee for the Maryland Institute for Minority
Achievement & Urban Education
2001-present
Past
American Management Association
1989-1997
American Red Cross, Metro
Arts Clayton, Board of Directors
1995-1999
Association of School Administrators and Supervisors
1977-1995
Boy Scouts of
Clayton ’96 Olympic Steering Committee
1995-1996
Educational Committee for
Georgia Governor’s P-16 Council
1998-1999
March of Dimes South Metro Honorary Chairman
1997
NASSP,
Quality Education for Minorities Network
1993
United Way of Clayton County., Advisory Board Member
1998-1999
Tudor Publishing Company Advisory Board (
Presentations/Media Appearances,
a partial list
August 2008
Presented opening address at the US Department of Education Technology
Summit,
June 2008
Participated in The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and
Technology’s Network of Networks Roundtable,
April 2008
Made presentation at environmental education field hearing sponsored by
Congressman John Sarbanes,
December 2007 Served as keynote speaker as part of the Challenge Accepted Series sponsored by The First Ring Leadership Academy, Cleveland State University
November 2007
Served as featured speaker at
September 2007 Offered testimony on High School Assessments before the Maryland State Board of Education
September 2007
Participated in announcement of
September 2007 Served as education panelist at Maryland Military Installation Council Meeting
July 2007
Acted as chair of the National Training Network/Algebraic Thinking
Corporate Panel at the Education Research and Development Institute,
April 2007
Participated in walking tour of new housing in Dundalk and discussion
with elected officials and community leaders regarding the school system’s role
in the continued renaissance of the
April 2007 Made presentation at Maryland Environmental Education Symposium
April 2007 Served as “Maryland Superintendents Discuss Priorities and Opportunities” panelist for the Maryland State Department of Education’s Teachers of Promise Institute
March 2007
Featured as “Districtwide
Approach to Creating College-Ready Students” panelist at 2007
AVID/College Board National Conference,
March 2007 Launch of BeWhatIWantToBe.com/BaltimoreCounty Web Site
February 2007 Offered “Quality Education Works for All of Us” presentation to Downtown Towson Rotary Club
January 2007 Hosted ceremony with State Superintendent of Schools to Announce that Red House Run Elementary is Maryland Blue Ribbon School
December 2006 Made “Educating Global Leaders” presentation during National Science Foundation Site Visit De-briefing & STEM Fall Seminar Kickoff
October 2006
Presented “Spirit of Possibility” presentation to Columbus, Georgia
Chamber of Commerce Conference
October 2006
Featured as panelist at AVID/College Board Leadership Collaborative for
College Readiness,
October 2006
Presented “Spirit of Possibility” address at Columbus, Georgia Chamber of
Commerce Conference
April 2006
Featured in The Christian Science
Monitor profile on Baltimore County Public Schools success in closing
achievement gaps
April 2006
Co-chaired and served as panelist for National Council on Educating Black
Children’s 20th annual national conference.
March 2006
Profiled in Scholastic
Administr@tor magazine.
March 2006
Presented keynote address at AVID/College Board National Conference.
March 2006
Featured at the National School Boards Association Council of Urban
Boards of Education press conference on school climates.
November 2005
Featured as panelist at Governor’s
September 2005
Served as panelist for Congressional Black Caucus Child Welfare
Braintrust.
August 2005
Profiled in
District Administration magazine.
Summer 2005
Featured in
Ed Tech magazine article about
professional development.
June 2005
Presented at the Committee for Economic Development’s Panel Discussion on
The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher,
December 2004
Featured as a presenter at 2004 National High School Summit, Washington,
D.C.
November 2004
Presented “State of Public Education” address at Greater Baltimore Board
of Realtors event.
October 2004
Served as panel member at Education Symposium during the 64th
Annual Convention of the Maryland State Conference of Branches of the NAACP, in
September 2002
Presented school system’s strategic plan for increasing student
participation in PSAT, SAT, and AP programs and assessments to Maryland State
Board of Education and Maryland State Department of Education.
February 2002
Made presentation on data-driven decision making to Maryland State
Superintendents Meeting,
November 2001
Presented “The Matrix Framework for Accelerating Achievement Among
Maryland’s Minority Students” to the Executive Summit on Minority Achievement.
December 2000
Profiled in
The Doyle Report.
April 1999
Presented “Networked Classroom Workstations for Instruction,
Communication, and Data Retrieval,” National School Board Association Annual
Conference,
January 1999
Presented “Raising the Investment Quotient,”
TECHNOS Quarterly for Education &
Technology, Winter, 1998, pgs. 14-17. Article discussed the process of
gaining community support and funding for implementing state-of-the-art
technology throughout the school system.
April 1998
Central focus of a feature entitled, “Tensions of Transition,” about
school reform in
March 1998
Presented at the National ASCD Conference in
March 1994
Served as plenary session panelist at the
We Can Make It Work in
November 1991
Cited in Life magazine
education article, “Revolutionary Steps to Better Education,” by John Weisman.
November 1989
Participated on a panel in
November 1989
Presented at Urban Principals’ Symposium for the
April 1989
Participated in The Washington
Post educators’ symposium at
February 1989
Interviewed for “Passport to
December 1988
Appeared on the Oprah Winfrey
Show, “School Violence.”
November 1988
Presided on a panel with President Ronald Reagan, who visited the
November 1988
Appeared on the NBC-TV program “American Black Forum.”
September 1988
Featured on cover and in article,
Baltimore Sun Magazine.
September 1988
Profiled in Maryland Magazine,
“
February 1988
Cited in Time magazine
article.
May 1986
Participated on a panel, “The Think Tank,” with Dr. Larry Lezotte,
Program on Effective Schools, National Conference on “The Education of Black
Americans,”
Personal Data
Born May 26, 1947.
Married, two adult children. Excellent health.
Interests:
Enjoy music, travel, sports, telecommunications, and reading, with a
particular interest in World War II history.
updated: 11/18/08