Revealing The Education Plan

County Executive Aisha Braveboy introduced Dr. Joseph, noting that her administration is ready to adapt as necessary for the sake of county youth education. PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MEDIA.

Interim Superintendent Shares Vision For First 100 Days

By Hamil R. Harris

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA

The Prince George's County Public Schools have a new leader, and even though Dr. Shawn Joseph is an interim appointee, he is not waiting to make reforms.

The county’s  Board of Education voted to approve Dr. Joseph’s contract on June 26th and the next day he joined County Executive Aisha Braveboy to unveil his plans for his first 100 days on the job.

Joseph, who ran the public school system in Nashville, Tennessee, said the three tenets of his plan call  for “Listening With Purpose, Leading With Integrity and Advancing Excellence with Every Child.”

“Our schools are only as strong as the people in them,” said Joseph saying that in addition to managing the school systems, he wants to examine hiring practices, the way parents and teacher unions interact with school administrators and staff undergo professional development.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Board of Education members joined Joseph at a press conference last week that came the day after the Board voted to approve his $375,000 contract.

Interim Prince George’s County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph introduced his 100-day plan on June 28. He and his team will work through the summer months to prepare for September and beyond. PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MEDIA.

During her comments, Braveboy said that she, the County Council, and the Superintendent are all on the same page when it comes to the county’s students being a top priority.

“He understood the fierce urgency of now,” Braveboy said at the press conference. “Now is the time to prepare our school system to take our children back in the Fall. Our classrooms have to be ready, our teachers have to be ready, and the education of our children has to be ready.”

Joseph’s 100-day plan has six “Core Values,” and three different sections to be implemented during the first three months of the school year. Days 1-30, Days 31-60, and Days 61-100.

When fielding questions from reporters, Joseph offered some of his plans for the school year.

In terms of communications, Joseph said, “We are going to host monthly meetings in all nine Districts. We want to engage in active listening.”

Calling it, “a moment for urgency,” Joseph told those gathered, “This is a moment to do great things on behalf of children in a great country.”

For now, Dr. Shawn Joseph says he is focused on the immediate work ahead, and he’s not distracted by speculation in seeking a permanent appointment to the post.

But he added that obtaining change among county leaders will not be easy. “We are going to push one another to be our best and to give one another grace. If we do that we will be a better school system faster.”

Because he has worked in Prince George’s County, at Howard University, and in Nashville, Joseph said, “I just don't bring a resume. I bring wisdom and humility.”

“My experience in Nashville has made me wiser. And much more focused,” said Joseph who led a school District that was the 43rd largest in the United States.

“Leadership is not about being perfect. It's about being purposeful,” He said. “I didn't come to Prince George’s County to re-live old battles. I came to build a brighter future.”