Cohort 7
Baltimore
Founding Principal, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women
“The role of principal forces us to reflect, respond and hopefully grow as leaders. We are constantly pushing and pulling not only ourselves; but our teachers, students and parents.”
View this video of the young women at Lorna’s school.
Lorna Hanley had one year to build a school from scratch. Beginning in fall 2009, she was to be the founding principal of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW). In 2008, her planning year, she did everything from selecting the school uniforms and picking school colors, to hiring teachers and support staff. She designed the curriculum and set out to create an entirely new school culture, which is “light years from changing a school culture,” according to Lorna.
In 2009, the doors to BLSYW finally opened with 120 sixth grade students. There are now 295 students in grades sixth, seventh, and eighth in 2011. The school is proving that they are true to their motto of “Transforming Baltimore, One Young Woman at a Time.” The proof lies in their data; BLSYW is one of the highest performing middle schools in Baltimore City. Their numbers are a testament to the hard work of the staff, who are determined to change the lives of the girls they work with in Baltimore City.
Lorna says that her favorite part about being a principal is “accepting the fact that I have a direct and deliberate hand in the course of child’s life.”
View students from Lorna’s school in their winning video for the Green Roof Giveaway!
