Longtime Charles County resident Virginia (Ginny) McGraw was sworn in on October 7th as the new President of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), a leading advocate for public education since 1957. The association consists of all 24 Maryland boards of education, whose ongoing vision is to champion excellence in public education.
McGraw’s swearing in took place during the Annapolis-based association’s Annual Conference, held this past week (October 6-8) in Annapolis. The retired Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) principal was named the 2009 CCPS Principal of the Year, and has served as a teacher and vice principal with CCPS. She continues to serve as a member of the Charles County Retired School Personnel Association, the Education Association of Charles County, and the Maryland State Education Association. She and her husband have been Charles County residents for over four decades.
“Ginny’s track record of leadership and commitment to quality public education speaks for itself,” said MABE Immediate Past President Tammy Fraley. “Her direct experience for decades in schools influences her approach to tackling the many challenges Maryland school districts continue to face, just as her active involvement with various education organizations informs her thinking on Maryland public education’s most critical issues. MABE’s 24 member school districts collectively are sure to benefit from the top-notch skills, ideas and leadership abilities she’ll bring to the table.”
Also sworn in during MABE’s Annual Conference were the association’s newly elected officers and board of directors. MABE incoming President-Elect is Joseph Goetz (Kent County); Treasurer is Michelle Corkadel (Anne Arundel County); and Secretary is Sonya Williams (Prince George’s County).
MABE’s incoming board of directors is comprised of Shantell Roberts (Baltimore City); Patricia Dorsey (Carroll County); Diana Hawley (Cecil County); Laura Layton (Dorchester County); Karen Yoho (Frederick County); Rodney Glotfelty (Garrett County); Chao Wu (Howard County); Brenda Wolff (Montgomery County); Karin Bailey (St. Mary’s County); Troy Brittingham (Somerset County); Michael Garman (Talbot County); and Melissa Williams (Washington County).
MABE’s 2021 Annual Conference drew school board officials, superintendents and other key stakeholders from around the state. Keynote speakers who focused on the most timely issues Maryland boards of education are tackling included Maryland Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury; Maryland State Board of Education President Clarence Crawford; University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, III; and Dr. Ebony Green, Senior Director of Programs – Equity and Access at the Institute for Student Achievement.
Also at MABE’s Annual Conference, MABE Board of Directors alumna Joy Schaefer (Frederick County) was presented with MABE’s Distinguished School Board Service Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to public education through school board service in Maryland. Schaefer has been active with MABE for many years. In their nomination, her Frederick County Board of Education colleagues singled out Schaefer’s talented bridge-building abilities, as well as her focus on empowering families and serving young people.