He announced the "zero-basing" of the school's employees, forcing all 193 of its staff members to reapply for their jobs. Close to 50 percent of the staff turned over. Teachers were required to commit to work at the school for three years, all staff was required to work year-round, and the school launched a summer program for incoming at-risk freshmen and a ninth-grade academy to foster relationships with teachers.
Though state officials have said it does not "take over" chronically underperforming schools but rather works with local districts to improve the situation, the looming threat of severe state sanctions threatened an embarrassment to local school officials.
Maxwell said last week he felt "vindicated" but cautioned that there was more work to do.
Principal Donald Lilley, who was forced to reapply for his position under Maxwell's restructuring, credited the superintendent's aggressive stance for shaking up the school.
"It was valuable for the faculty and staff," Lilley said. "Now they know why we're working so hard. We see the fruits of our labor. But we've got to keep going. Annapolis High School has the potential to be the very best, and that's where we want to go."
Among the changes at the school was the creation of more after-school tutoring and other programming, including an effort for juniors and seniors to mentor younger students.
The school was in a celebratory mood when the news was announced last week. Maxwell, who has forged a close relationship with Lilley in monthly meetings and frequent phone conversations on the school's development, visited last Monday to deliver the news to the faculty and staff.
"There were some tears," Maxwell said, recalling the scene. "There were some high fives and some hugs."
The news was announced publicly Tuesday. Lilley received congratulatory calls from politicians. And the student body, which had for so long labored to make the grade, seemed to exhale collectively a sigh of relief.
Kwame Abrah, 17, and Kevin Dudley, 16, both seniors in the International Baccalaureate program at Annapolis High with plans for college next year, were in their 4th period History of the Americas class when the announcement came over the loud speaker.
Dudley quipped, "It's not just Yale or jail," repeating a popular mantra about the seemingly disparate achievement levels of students at the school.
"The whole class was screaming," Abrah said. "We had to work really hard to make it. There was that threat in the back of our heads if we didn't make it we would be taken over. It feels really good to leave the school knowing we passed."
