We are a quarter of the way in to the new school year, and Kenwood’s new principal has jumped right back in to the community of her childhood. Prior to returning to Kenwood in July 2024, she has been a part of BCPS and Kenwood community for a long time.
She graduated from Kenwood High School in 2001. Began her career in Baltimore County Public Schools as an English teacher in 2006 at Kenwood High School where she taught and coached here for almost a decade before transferring to assistant principal at Lansdowne High School in 2015.
Before she came back to KHS, Mrs. Smith was an assistant principal at Delaney High School for a year. She loved being an assistant principal, and she did not have any intentions of becoming a principal. She felt as though it was a lot of work, and it would take time away from her being with her family. It wasn’t the fact that she wasn’t ready to become a principal it was more about where she felt more at home at as she explained that, “it wasn’t about when but about where”.
Coming home to Kenwood now as we searched for a new principal just seemed to be the right time. Mrs. Smith was already familiar with the Bluebird community and are close with some of the teachers that are a part of the Bluebird Community. Kenwood High is a place that she’s always believed in and wants to give her time, energy and love to.
For Ms. Smith it wasn’t just about being a principal to the school but about the compassion and connection she has for the school that’s what made her want to come back and become a part of the Bluebird community again. She knew there was no other place she would rather begin her principal journey than Kenwood High.
But Mrs. Smtih is no ordinary principal as she’s the type of principal you would want to attend to your school. She has such a big heart and you can truly see she loves kids. Two months in to the school year and students are already use to seeing her face on their morning announcements and in the hall or over the PA system, giving them a cherry reminder to not get caught in the next hall sweep! Senior Nema has noticed her effort to change here at Kenwood. “It’s evident Mrs. Smith is making an effort to make changes in the school,” he shares.
Through Smith’s diligent effort to focus on school climate, at the conclusion of quarter 1 chronic absenteeism was down 5.48% from this time last school year. 1200 students were invited to the quarter 1 incentive BMX assembly that encouraged students to meet attendance, academic, and behavior criteria.
Mrs. Smith wants the students to know that she’s not here just to collect a paycheck, she’s here for us, the students, to work together with the students to help them have a better high school experience and to enjoy themselves.
Ms. Single who has worked with Mrs. Smith prior to her return to Kenwood adds, “I’m so excited to have Ms. Smith at the helm here at Kenwood. I think that she will do a lot to increase Kenwood Pride and that she and Mr. Goldbeck (our Community School facilitator) will help to change the way the community sees Kenwood for the better.”
We’re excited as a community to have Mrs. Smith here to lead us into the future.
