Maxine J. Wood, Ed.D., is a retired educator and administrator at the classroom, school and district levels, with more than 45 years’ service in pre-K through 12 and higher education, as well as a former school board commissioner. Her degrees were earned at College of Notre Dame of Maryland [B.A.], Towson University [M.Ed.], and doctorate in Urban Education from Temple University, Pennsylvania.
She served more than 20 years as an educator in the Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS), holding positions as a classroom teacher at middle and high school levels; proposal developer/grants writer; coordinator for specially funded federal, state, and non-local programs; and an elementary school principal of two BCPSS schools.
A promotional opportunity allowed Maxine to join the Alexandria City Public Schools, Alexandria, VA. as an Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. Subsequently, she held positions as an Assistant and Associate Superintendent, and was the Interim Superintendent for one school year. During these years, she worked directly with students and staff, with a dedicated focus on parents and families. Maxine’s career also included post-secondary administrative service at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
Many of her most inspiring experiences in education involved opportunities to assist, advise and encourage parents to support their children’s learning and achievement in the educational process. This involved working with schools nationally through the JHU Talent Development Secondary programs. Her experiences included activities and incentives that encouraged parents to support their children’s learning both inside and outside of school. A primary goal of these endeavors often focused on establishing and maintaining strong teacher-parent relationships.
HomeWork reflects her continued effort to equip parents and those in parenting roles to remain involved as their children’s first teachers, encouraging their success in school and life.