By Senator Cory McCray
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”
These words from President John F. Kennedy resonate deeply with me, especially as I consider the future of education in Baltimore and throughout the state. They remind us that our investments in education today shape the world our children will inherit tomorrow. Every decision we make about education policy, every dollar we invest in our schools, and every building we fight to keep open carries a message to future generations about what we value as a society.
In my district, Maryland’s 45th Legislative District, schools like Johnston Square Elementary and Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary – affectionately known as “Nifty 250” – stand as testaments to both our challenges and our commitment to overcoming them. In these schools, where nine out of ten students come from low-income families, we see the urgent need for educational investment and the transformative power of community action.
The passage of The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future in 2018 marked a turning point for these institutions. With major implementation beginning in 2021, this comprehensive 10-year plan opens doors from pre-K to post-secondary education, ensuring that family income, race or ethnicity no longer determines a child’s access to quality education.
A key part of this transformation has been the Concentration of Poverty Grants, which have provided both Johnston Square and Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary Schools with increased funding. These grants have enabled the schools to hire additional staff, including social workers, community school coordinators and literacy coaches. These positions are critical to meeting the unique needs of our scholars, many of whom come from challenging circumstances.
At Johnston Square Elementary, the impact of this increased staffing is already visible, with rising enrollment, literacy improvements, and higher test scores. At Dr. Bernard Harris, while the test score gains have been slower, the additional staffing has brought stability and resources to a school that has long been a cornerstone of its community. Both schools are benefiting from these critical investments, which are helping to meet scholars where they are and provide the support they need to thrive.
The Blueprint arrived at a critical moment. In 2022, Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary faced possible closure – one of three schools on the chopping block, joining over two dozen Baltimore City schools already shuttered due to declining enrollment, deteriorating facilities, and academic challenges. In January 2022, former State Senator Nathaniel McFadden and I penned an op-ed titled “A Plea for Baltimore City Public Schools to Keep Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary School Open– and Work with the Community” in the AFRO. Our advocacy emphasized the critical role this school played in the neighborhood and called for collaboration with the community to keep its doors open.
Our voices, joined by over 200 community members who signed a petition, led Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises to reverse the decision, recognizing the school’s stronger performance metrics compared to others under consideration. This victory was not just about preserving a school but protecting a cornerstone of the community.
The fight to save Dr. Bernard Harris reinforced my commitment to protect vulnerable schools in the 45th Legislative District through strategic investment. We secured a $200,000 appropriation to revitalize Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary’s foyer – a transformation that sends a strong message to every person who enters the building that we care about them. Equally powerful is the mural honoring the legacy of Dr. Bernard Harris, serving as a vivid reminder of our history and the promise that education holds for future generations.
This story reminds us that education is more than academics; it’s about creating school hubs that are essential to breaking generational poverty. Schools are not only places of learning but also safe havens, gathering spaces, and the foundation for a thriving community.
This commitment to education is mirrored by broader investments we have made in both neighborhoods. From housing redevelopment to green spaces and recreation facilities, we are working to build communities where families can thrive. It is incumbent upon us to keep our promise to education as the anchor of these revitalization efforts. Without a strong educational foundation, these investments will fail to achieve their full potential.
Just down the street, Johnston Square Elementary School is undergoing its own transformation. With $200,000 secured for a new playground and additional improvements, the school has seen an uptick in enrollment, particularly in kindergarten, a promising sign for long-term growth. The stability of leadership under Principal Olumiji, who recently marked five years at the helm, has been key to this progress. Stability in leadership, coupled with investments in tools like literacy coaching programs, has driven measurable improvements in reading scores and overall performance. Pulling back these tools or losing this stability could jeopardize the strides already made.
Each year, I read to Ms. Lowery’s kindergarten class at Johnston Square Elementary, and every time, I see the brilliance and promise in the eyes of our youngest scholars. Within their eyes, I see potential. I see future leaders, innovators, and changemakers. They are our greatest resource, and we have an obligation to nurture that potential.
As we face tough budget challenges and a Trump administration that has promised to gut the Department of Education, our responsibility to our young scholars in concentrated ZIP codes of poverty has never been more urgent. We must summon the courage and will to ensure these young scholars know they matter, that they are valued, and that they deserve an equitable education to compete globally.
President Kennedy’s words remind me of the responsibility I bear – to send a message to future generations that their education, dreams, and potential are my priority. In Baltimore City and across Maryland, that’s a message I am committed to delivering loud and clear.
Cory McCray represents Maryland’s 45th Legislative District in the State Senate, which includes Northeast and East Baltimore. A lifelong advocate for working families, Senator McCray is committed to investing in education, fostering economic growth, and strengthening communities. His previous op-eds have highlighted critical issues such as expanding opportunity through apprenticeships, supporting vulnerable neighborhoods, and protecting Baltimore’s public schools.
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