News Archives - The Children's Guild

Tranzed Alliance Names Kathy Lane Chief Of Educational Services

by | Feb 26, 2019 | News

TranZed Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children and families in Maryland and the District of Columbia, named Kathy Lane chief of educational services. In this role, Lane supports the development of TranZed Alliance’s special education programs and charter schools.

“Kathy’s reputation for being responsive, effective and collaborative precedes her,” said Andrew L. Ross, president and CEO of TranZed Alliance. “She brings three decades of experience and success working with challenging students and has the qualities needed to lead our educational services.”

Lane has 32 years of education experience focusing on students who face barriers to learning in public school systems. Lane held multiple positions with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, including executive director of alternative education, director of alternative education and safe schools, assistant principal of the Glendale Regional Program and specialist for programs and services for students with emotional disabilities in the Division of Special Education. She was also a special educator with Prince George’s County Public Schools.

 In addition to her educational experience, Lane serves on the board of the Early Childhood Coalition of Anne Arundel County and the Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. She is a member of the leadership teams at the Annapolis Collaborative for Change and Community of Hope Initiative.

Lane holds a master’s degree in psycho-education of the emotionally disturbed adolescent from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education from The Catholic University of America. She earned a Maryland State Department of Education certificate in administration and supervision from Bowie State University.

 TranZed Alliance is a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and is dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of TranZed Alliance include The Children’s Guild, Monarch Academy Public Charter Schools, TranZed Academy for Working Students, TranZed Apprenticeships Services, The Children’s Guild D.C. Public Charter School, TranZed Institute, the National At-Risk Education Network, the TranZed Alliance Conference Center and The National Children’s Guild Fund. (www.childrensguild.org)

Monarch Academy Glen Burnie’s Charter Renewed For Five Years

by | Feb 13, 2019 | News

Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, a public charter school founded and operated by The Children’s Guild and affiliated with TranZed Alliance, received a five-year renewal of the school’s charter contract. The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County voted unanimously to renew Monarch Academy’s charter at its Feb. 6, 2019, meeting.

“Monarch Academy Glen Burnie has become a leader in hands-on, project-based learning beloved by students, families and teachers in Anne Arundel County. We’re grateful to our partner Anne Arundel County Public Schools for recognizing Monarch Academy Glen Burnie’s strengths and renewing its charter,” said Andrew L. Ross, president and CEO of The Children’s Guild.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools considers site visits, interviews, other qualitative and quantitative data, a financial audit and a renewal application to evaluate Monarch Academy Glen Burnie on performance in six categories: instruction and student services, business and management services, school climate, governance and management, parent and community involvement, and operational compliance.

“I have a very close connection with Monarch, because my oldest son attended there for four years. He was the first fifth-grade class that went through, and we had a wonderful experience, and I think Monarch has set the standard,” board member Julie Hummer said at the Feb. 6 meeting. “Charter and contract schools are added to school systems to complement what we already offer, and Monarch Glen Burnie perfectly illustrates that.”

Monarch Academy opened in 2009, and this year concludes the fifth and final year of its second charter contract. The school serves 676 students in kindergarten through eighth grade with the mission of “preparing students for citizenship by developing critical thinking skills, creative problem solving, self-discipline, and a commitment to service in order to thrive in the community in which they live.”

“Monarch Academy Glen Burnie continued to assemble a teaching staff that worked diligently to build its capacity to deliver quality instruction, consistent with the school’s mission and instructional model. With the support of its Governing Board and operator, Monarch Academy has continued to establish itself as a unique educational option for families throughout Anne Arundel County,” according to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools charter renewal report.

In addition to Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Academy Annapolis and Monarch Global Academy in Laurel are Anne Arundel County Public Schools contract schools and serve students in Anne Arundel County.

Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, a public charter school founded and operated by The Children’s Guild and affiliated with TranZed Alliance, serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade with an enriched, rigorous, hands-on, academic curriculum emphasizing project-based learning, arts enhancement and technology. In addition, Monarch Academy follows Transformation Education, an organizational philosophy that infuses a school’s beliefs and values into the look of the school building, instructional approach, teachers’ mindset and behavior and operating systems. (www.monarchacademy.org)