Perry Hall resident to join Baltimore County school board

Julie Henn

County Councilman David Marks says he’s “very pleased” to learn that Perry Hall resident Julie Henn will be joining the Baltimore County Public Schools Board of Education in December. Marks said Gov. Larry Hogan’s office told him of the appointment.

Before her appointment, Henn served as chair of the Northeast Area Education Advisory Council of Baltimore County. According to her Facebook page, she is the Chief Information Officer and Director of Technology for QM Quality Matters, “a global non-profit organization dedicated to quality assurance in online education.”

“Responsibility for the quality of our children’s educations must be shared and parents have a tremendous role.  I joined the Northeast Area Education Advisory Council (NEAEAC) to learn how BCPS decisions are made and how parents can be directly involved in the process.  Increasing community engagement has been the primary goal during my time as chair of the NEAEAC,” she told the Flyer.

“One of my main goals as a board member is to increase communication and collaboration between the community, the board, and BCPS staff.  We need to work together on some very complex challenges.  Parents need to know that they have a voice in the BCPS budgeting and policy-making processes, and they need to know how to most effectively participate in the process and advocate for their children’s needs” Henn said. “Likewise, BCPS needs to be responsive and accountable to those they serve.”

Marks said he recommended Henn for the position “because she has the qualities that I think we want in a School Board member.”

“First, she is a parent whose two children have attended Baltimore County Public Schools.  That perspective is important.  Second, Julie has a long history of community involvement, and she knows the need to deal with school overcrowding, a problem that affects schools throughout Baltimore County,” Marks said. “Finally, her career in online education will be helpful as we scrutinize technology in schools, an issue of concern to many Towson parents.”

Henn received an Executive MBA from Loyola University in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Marquette University, her page says. She is the parent of two children, one previously enrolled, and one currently enrolled in Baltimore County Public Schools.

Her appointment is to take effect in December. The hybrid school board model — in which some BCPS board members are appointed and some are elected by voters — does not take effect until 2018.