PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS >  BROWSE

Deputy Superintendent for School Support and Improvement Appointed

March 13, 2012
The Montgomery County Board of Education appointed Beth Schiavino-Narvaez as deputy superintendent for the new Office of School Support and Improvement. Mrs. Schiavino-Narvaez, currently a community superintendent at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), begins her new post on April 1.

As part of a reorientation of the MCPS central office, Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr is creating the Office of School Support and Improvement (OSSI) to better align and coordinate direct services to schools and principals, including professional development, leadership development and the offices of the community superintendents. This office replaces the current Office of School Performance.  

“The Office of School Support and Improvement will allow us to focus and streamline our direct service, support and training to principals and schools,” Dr. Starr said. “I know that Beth Schiavino-Narvaez has the experience and the vision to lead this work and I look forward to collaborating with her on improving adult learning in our district so that we can best serve the students of Montgomery County Public Schools.”

Mrs. Schiavino-Narvaez has served as community superintendent for the Northeast Consortium and Sherwood cluster since September. Prior to joining MCPS, she served as assistant superintendent/chief academic officer and chief schools officer for the Springfield (Mass.) Public Schools, from Feb. 2010 to July 2011. From 2008 to 2010, Mrs. Schiavino-Narvaez served as special assistant to the superintendent in Stamford (Conn.) Public Schools as part of the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University. Dr. Starr was Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools at the time.

From 1996-2008, Mrs. Schiavino-Narvaez served as a teacher in Pennsylvania, a school administrator in Massachusetts, and a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Kiribati. She was a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea from 1994 to 1996. She received her degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University and her Master's degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. She expects to receive her doctorate from Harvard in the coming months.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Starr, the Board of Education and the outstanding staff of MCPS to improve teaching and learning for every student, every day,” Mrs. Schiavino-Narvaez said. “MCPS has a well-earned reputation as one of the best school districts in the nation and I know that working together we can continue to be a model of excellence.”

An acting community superintendent will be appointed for the Northeast Consortium and Sherwood cluster in the coming weeks.

As part of the central office reorientation, an Office of Teaching and Learning Programs will be created and include the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, special education, English for Speakers of Other Languages and other departments. A deputy superintendent will be appointed for this office prior to July 1.

Dr. Frieda Lacey, the current deputy superintendent of schools, has announced she will retire on June 30 after more than 40 years of service to MCPS. 

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