The Jefferson School, one of 12 special education schools within the Sheppard Pratt Health System, has named Michael Kerins principal of the 12-month special education residential program and day school serving students with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities in Frederick, Maryland.
Kerins is an experienced educator and administrator, skilled in working with students who have emotional and learning differences and in designing programs to meet the individualized needs of each student.
As the former Director of Education for The Ridge School of Montgomery County and having held several positions with Hannah More School, part of the Sheppard Pratt Health System, including Director of Education, Principal, English/Language Arts Instructor and Project SEARCH Supervisor for more than 30 years, in addition to serving as appointed commissioner for the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities for 15 years, Kerins is well-equipped for the role.
“We are pleased that Michael has decided to come back to the Sheppard Pratt Health System,” said Maureen McGuire, director of The Jefferson School. “He will undoubtedly bring a high level of skill and charisma to this important role, continuing his track record of success and making a difference in the lives of our students and staff.”
Kerins earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Speech and Theatre and a minor in English from Frostburg State College in 1980. He received a master’s degree in Education, Principal’s Certificate and a Special Education Certificate from Loyola College of Maryland.
He has been published in The Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems.
Kerins replaces Sherry Ross, who was appointed principal at Jefferson High School.
The Jefferson School provides a specialized educational environment for male and female students 12-21, complete with a therapeutic milieu and recreational and community-based activities including a wood shop, greenhouse, visual and performing arts classrooms, graphic arts lab, adventure course, hiking trails and more across a 30-acre campus. There is also a residential treatment center on campus, where many of the school students reside. The school is categorized as Type I, and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.
For more information on The Jefferson School, visit www.sheppardpratt.org.
About Sheppard Pratt Health System
About Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources. Since its founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been innovating the field through research, best practice implementation, and a focus on improving the quality of mental health care on a global level. Sheppard Pratt has been consistently recognized as a top national psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years.