Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Maryland State Superintendent of Schools (1991-2011) |
| Spouse | Lou Grasmick (d. 2016) |
Nancy S. Grasmick is the former Superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education, serving from 1991 until June 30, 2011.[1] Married to Baltimore businessman Lou Grasmick, who died in 2016, the couple also became active in various philanthropic endeavors.[2][3]
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Dr. Nancy Grasmick Joins Towson University
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Combined Choirs: Joyous the Love
Transcription
>>Dr. Maravene Loeshke: Good afternoon everyone, and thanks so much for coming out for this announcement because we're here today to make an announcement that will guide the university's future. Today Dr. Nancy Grasmick assumes the position of Towson University's Presidential Scholar. >>Dr. Nancy Grasmick: It's a very exciting day for me. I received such a wonderful education at Towson University, and I believe has been directly related to what I received here at Towson University. And I cannot think of a better place to make this a national model for teacher and leadership preparation and continuing education. I wanted to work with a visionary leader, and Dr. Loeshke is that visionary leader. >>Dr. Maravene Loeshke: Oh, it's just the most joyous thing. It is all wrapped around what Towson's future is going to be in terms of our commitment to K through 12 teacher preparation. She had many, many people who wanted her to join them when she announced her retirement, and she picked us. It is one of Towson's finest hours. The funds for Dr. Grasmick's position and the funding for our work in teacher preparation innovation were privately raised and underscores the many organizations and individuals who are more than will to generously support her leadership and Towson's leadership. First is Ed St. John, founder and chairman of St. John Properties. A company with a portfolio more than 15 million square feet of real estate in five states. With a mantra that education has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities, the Edward St. John Foundation since 1988 has pledged, gifted, in kind, and outright contributed more than $43 million to more than 350 educational and other non-profit organizations throughout Baltimore and Washington region. >>Edward St. John: An education is what's going to change our society and therefore, that's our mission. Our mission is to help people get an education. >>Dr. Maravene Loeshke: Our second seat donor is Vince Talbert. A Towson alum, Vince is the vice president of Merchant Marketing at PayPal and was part of the building team to develop, launch and grow the flagship, Bill Me Later. A quote that best describes Vince's philosophy on education is, let's make Baltimore the Silicon Valley of education innovation. Let's please thank Vince Talbert. (APPLAUSE) >>Dr. Ray Lorion: I must way that having the opportunity to speak at this event is really the highlight of my 40 year career. I have to also admit that three and a half minutes after I heard Nancy was going to retire, I immediately said, I wonder if there's any chance at all for her to join us. >>Nancy Grasmick: So when I retired from the position as State Superintendent, I wanted to give something back. And I wanted to take all the lessons learned over these 40 plus years and be able to incorporate those in terms of important partnerships within our communities and certainly galvanizing the talent of this university. >>Dr. Maravene Loeshke: Today I also announce that Towson is well positioned to receive a grant, an enhancement funding from the University of Maryland System to adapt a Towson-tailored U Teach model for STEM teacher preparation. Towson U Teach, the program that we are planning to implement will position Towson as the preeminent institution in Maryland to study, to become a science or mathematics teacher. >>Dr. Ray Lorion: We're going to work with her to bring together national conversations about, how do we go beyond goals for STEM to actually creating the wherewithal to increase the number of science and math teachers. >>Sharon Akers: Wow. I think for Nancy Grasmick to be here and to set up this benchmark program we'll change education. And to have her prestige, her credibility, her commitment to the students, it's just - I think a wonderful day for Towson and for the state. >>Nancy Grasmick: Education is our most important undertaking because education makes every other profession possible. Thank you very much. I'm honored.
Early years and education
Born Nancy Streeks, Grasmick was raised in Baltimore's Forest Park neighborhood. While still a teenager attending Western High School, she had a bout of temporary deafness as a reaction to medication. She said later that she was inspired by the example of Helen Keller and decided to devote her life to education.[4]
She received her doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University, her master's degree from Gallaudet University, and her bachelor's degree from Towson University.[1]
Career
Grasmick began as a teacher of deaf children at the William S. Baer School in the Baltimore City Public Schools. She subsequently served as a classroom and resource teacher, principal, supervisor, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent in the Baltimore County Public Schools. In 1989, Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed her Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families and, in 1991, the State Board of Education appointed her State Superintendent of Schools.[1] In 1997, Grasmick was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[5] In 2000, Grasmick was the recipient of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr., Prize in Education, awarded in recognition of her achievements as head of the Maryland School system.[6]
In 2008, then-Governor Martin O'Malley unsuccessfully sought to replace Grasmick as Superintendent, calling her "a pawn of the Republican Party" because of her support of No Child Left Behind.[7] At the time, Education Week ranked Maryland's schools third best in the U.S., based on several criteria. The effort ultimately failed, however, and she served for another three years, retiring at age 72 in June, 2011. By then, Education Week ranked Maryland's schools #1 in the nation.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Nancy S. Grasmick, Ph.D." Maryland Manual. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Fenton, Justin (May 28, 2016). "Louis J. Grasmick, political activist, philanthropist and lumber company executive, diesGrasmick". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Louis and Nancy Grasmick give $1 million to Hopkins Heart Institute", Johns Hopkins Medicine, October 5, 2004.
- ^ a b Bowie, Liz (June 28, 2011). "Grasmick's last day marks end of an era". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ Past Winners of Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education
- ^ Bowie, Liz (January 10, 2008). "Grasmick called a 'pawn' of GOP". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 15:33