Dr. Michael J. Martirano

Dr. Martirano is leading HCPSS in making equity ubiquitous throughout school system practices, resources and opportunities, and in ensuring a common definition and language for equity among all HCPSS stakeholders. Specific efforts support a commitment to equitable discipline practices, increasing staff diversity, and embedding diversity and inclusion throughout the curriculum.

• Dr. Martirano’s statement to the community on equitable discipline practices
• HCPSS Named a 2019 and 2020 Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes

Based upon principles of restorative justice, restorative practices are at the core of Dr. Martirano’s primary, long term strategy for achieving higher levels of student engagement and achievement, narrowing achievement gaps among student groups, and ensuring nurturing, inclusive and safe learning environments for all students. These practices build healthy relationships based on empathy between students and staff, and among adults in the school community, which are fundamental to learning engagement.

The elevation of “student voice” is a fundamental strategy for schools to establish a restorative climate. Student voice circles and other initiatives deepen staff members’ understanding of student perspectives, increase students’ role in school leadership, and inform teaching and learning experiences that are engaging and inspiring.

• Dr. Martirano named a 2020 Leader in Diversity by the Baltimore Business Journal
• Response to racially charged behavior/social media posts by HCPSS students
• Statement following national incidents of racism, hate, and bias
• Bullying prevention public service announcement
• StoryStrong provides a forum for student voice through diverse first person narratives
• Reach Academy, a restorative school program to accelerate student achievement

More than 22 percent of HCPSS students live in poverty, and many more face language barriers, mental health issues and other challenges that hinder learning and achievement. Dr. Martirano is enhancing supports for the students with greatest need by adding special educators, social workers and nurses in schools and expanding access to essential services in collaboration with community service providers.

• FARMs Assistance Programs public service announcement, encouraging families in need to access free or low cost school meals and many other benefits
• Enhancing student mental health supports
• Supporting students and families through expanded outreach

Dr. Martirano is committed to ensuring students needing special education services receive high quality instruction and supports in the least restrictive environment, with full collaboration among staff, families and community providers.

• The Special Education strategic plan includes strategies and initiatives that are underway regarding instructional practice improvements, data driven results, social skills, IEP compliance and accountability, professional learning, and staffing
• A workgroup to support students with dyslexia and other reading disorders involves students, their families, community members and staff
• The Superintendent’s Special Education Advisory Council recommends improvements for programs, initiatives and supports for students and their families

Under Dr. Martirano’s leadership, HCPSS is rapidly expanding learning opportunities to align with students’ individual strengths, needs, skills and interests. New digital and other non-traditional options, multiple career pathways, early college opportunities, and other initiatives enrich education for all students.

• HCPSS and community partners collaborate to ensure students enter kindergarten ready to learn. Launch into Learning, Read With Me, Talk with Me and other programs support families of children ages birth through 5.
• The JumpStart dual enrollment initiative gives students a head start in earning a college degree and opens doors to higher education for many additional students.
• New agriculture and HVAC career academies, plus innovative apprenticeship pathways toward STEM, construction and other careers, join an expanding array of career preparation options open to high school students.
• Local organizations support internships and other opportunities for HCPSS staff and students through the Superintendent’s Program Innovation Advisory Board.

Dr. Martirano considers transparency of school system decisions and operations, fiscal integrity, and accountability to the community among the school system’s most fundamental responsibilities.

Upon taking the helm of the school system he acted decisively to streamline operations, better ensure student safety, and demonstrate a commitment to responsiveness and trustworthiness to staff, community members and elected officials. He has refined business processes to ensure tight financial oversight and the most effective and efficient use of school system resources.

• Regular and open communications, a comprehensive web presence, and multiple opportunities for input and feedback ensure community, staff and students have full access to information and meaningful involvement in school boundary review, budget planning, and other major processes and initiatives.
• An innovative online MPIA input and tracking system, the first of its kind in the region, improves transparency and responsiveness to stakeholder inquiries. HCPSS Enhances Transparency with Launch of Online MPIA Tracking System
• The SCTA website is a user-friendly resource for monitoring performance measures and progress toward increasing equity and closing opportunity gaps.