Nancy Grasmick

Updated with Liz Bowie report from school headquarters: Maryland schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick is stepping down from her post as the nation's longest-serving state education chief. Grasmick, 72, announced her retirement this afternoon to a large gathering of workers at the state Department of Education office that bears her name. She'll step down June 30. "I have made a very tough decision to leave," she said. She highlighted the state's accomplishments on its Advanced Placement performance, its preparation for kindergartners and its successful Race to the Top application.

Nancy S. Grasmick, state superintendent of schools, spoke recently with Richard C. Gross, editor of the Opinion Commentary page. What can the children, parents, teachers and principals expect in the coming school year in terms of improvements? There are higher levels of resources that are available to the schools, the economy of the state is good and schools have realized some of that, both at the local level and through state contributions as well as federal contributions. There's more of a focus.

Nancy S. Grasmick began as a teacher of deaf children at the William S. Baer School in Baltimore. She subsequently served as a classroom and resource teacher, principal, supervisor, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent in the Baltimore County Public School System. In 1989, Gov. William Donald Schaefer appointed her special secretary for children, youth and families; in 1991, the State Board of Education appointed her state superintendent of schools, and last week, the panel extended her contract for four more years.

The state Board of Education was to announce formally this afternoon that Nancy S. Grasmick, secretary for the Department of Juvenile Services, will take over as state superintendent of schools.The announcement was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in the board's offices.Grasmick, who assumed the juvenile services post in January, will continue as special secretary for the Office of Children, Youth and Families, the state position that first lured her from the Baltimore County public school system two years ago.As superintendent, she replaces Joseph L. Shilling, who announced his resignation in May.Her departure from juvenile services means the department will have to find its third secretary this year.

School districts across Maryland are being asked this week to engage in discussions and activities addressing the issue of school bullying after several recent high-profile cases in Baltimore and the nation. Maryland first lady Katie O'Malley and state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick have designated May 24-28 as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. O'Malley, along with state education officials, will kick off the week Monday morning with a visit to Pikesville Middle School.

An outsider with experience in leading a neighboring state through sometimes-unpopular reforms will become the next Maryland superintendent of schools, the state school board announced Friday. Delaware Secretary of Education Lillian M. Lowery, a 57-year-old with more than 35 years of teaching and administrative experience in several states, will take over July 1 as Maryland's schools enter a year of transition. "We think we have gotten the best person that could have taken this job. She has a long track record of success on all the important education issues," said school board President James DeGraffenreidt.

She gave her pupils positive feedback -- and challenged some of the more eager ones to sit quietly until their classmates caught up. At the end of the lesson, she passed out autographs and hugs. State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick returned to her teaching roots yesterday when she visited Pine Grove Elementary School in Baltimore County and taught a reading lesson to a group of fourth-graders. "I love interacting with children, and it helps to keep me focused," said Grasmick at the end of a half-hour lesson.

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick never mistook somber dress for professional dress. Every day, Grasmick, who lives in Phoenix, is abloom in brilliant colors and clothing themed to holidays and special events. Her reasons are twofold: One, she doesn't want to get lost in a crowd. And two, she knows kids love bright hues and fun clothing. For instance, she has a green suit with frog buttons that really go "ribbit" when you touch them. This Saturday, she and her husband, businessman Lou Grasmick, will escort long-time civic leader Walter Sondheim Jr. to a celebration that honors him and benefits the Maryland chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Experts say there's one rule that stands above all others when it comes to state testing programs: Never, ever publish results if you aren't sure they're correct. "There has to be confidence in the quality of the results," says Walter M. Haney, Boston College professor and senior research associate in the school's Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation and Educational Policy. "People have to believe that the results they're seeing are accurate." In states where mistaken scores have been published - and there have been many - the effects have been widespread: hundreds of schools wrongly praised or scorned, thousands of dollars in bonuses given to teachers who didn't deserve them, and even the scrapping of entire testing programs.

I DON'T THINK NANCY S. Grasmick, the state school superintendent, has previewed public television's episode Sept. 10 of the "Merrow Report," but she's acting as though she has.The superintendent announced yesterday a new incentive package aimed at recruiting quality teachers and keeping them.Most of the inducements look to the long term. Most are aimed at improving the profession rather than luring new talent with bonuses, tax breaks and other gimmicks such as those included in her first plan last winter.