This week, students from The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore and The Children’s Guild’s Academy group homes practiced their baseball throwing, catching and batting skills and played a game under the direction of professional baseball players with League of Dreams, which provides baseball experiences for children unable to compete in traditional leagues.

This amazing baseball clinic took place at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore and included David Hess, Orioles right-handed pitcher; Trey Mancini, Orioles infielder/outfielder; John Wasdin, Orioles bullpen coach; Adam Kolarek, Dodger left-handed pitcher; Mike Bordick, League of Dreams chairman, Orioles Hall of Famer and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network broadcaster; and Frank Kolarek, League of Dreams president and founder, University of Maryland baseball alumnus.

View coverage from WMAR

Monarch Academy Annapolis, a public contract school with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, named Brad Clapper assistant principal. In his position, Clapper will work with students, teachers and staff members to help increase student achievement as well as manage state and local testing programs.

“My goal is for every student in our building to feel they can be successful in the classroom and develop a love of learning,” Clapper said.

Clapper brings experience establishing a student-centered vision throughout the school, administering performance assessments, facilitating research-based training and professional development for teachers, observing classrooms and providing feedback to teachers. Prior to joining Monarch Academy Annapolis, Clapper taught math at Belle Grove Elementary School, where he held leadership positions. He also was a teacher at Brooklyn Park Elementary School and Marshall Elementary School.

He holds Administrator I Certification in school improvement leadership as well as certification in elementary and middle school education. Clapper earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Elizabethtown College.

“We are so excited to have Brad’s instructional leadership and passion for creating the conditions for engaging experiences for all our students, staff and families at Monarch,” said Kathy Lane, chief of educational services for The Children’s Guild Alliance and Monarch Academy Annapolis.

Clapper lives in Crownsville.

Monarch Academy charter and contract schools are affiliate members of The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild Alliance include The Children’s Guild, The Academy for Working Students (TAWS), TranZed Apprenticeships, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, Transformation Education Institute, National At-Risk Education Network (NAREN), Conference Center at The Children’s Guild Alliance and The National Children’s Guild Fund.

High-school student Jarold Leishear and his teacher Jay Gregario were featured on Laurel Community TV for a comic book Jarold created about cyber bullying. Jarold wrote the comic book as part of a project-based learning (PBL) activity led by Mr. Gregario, who then helped Jarold self-publish the book. The first 50 copies sold out in two days.

Seventeen-year-old Jarold has high-functioning autism and attends The Children’s Guild School of Prince George’s County. Although he has never directly experienced cyber bullying, Jarold has faced his own challenges, and his passion for comic books has provided a world of solace. Jarold has written more than 27 comic books, but this is the first one to be published and receive so much attention. “I have a future that [sic] I will make more stories,” says Jarold.

Mr. Gregario has been Jarold’s teacher for more than three years, and he is thrilled with Jarold’s success. “There has been a significant change in the way he presents himself,” says Mr. Gregario.