Fund for Educational Excellence

Here’s a closer look at 2026 Heart of the School Awardee Cheyanne Zahrt of City Neighbors High School.

Principal Zahrt leads a school where student voice isn’t a buzzword, but core to the experience for each young person. Students have the space to create their own student-run clubs, are trusted as young adults, have opportunities to express themselves, and get to engage in meaningful internships to grow in a self-directed manner. This ethos extends to staff, who regularly co-collaborate across departments on units and help identify and design changes in programming. This all stems from Principal Zahrt, and City Neighbors High is reaping the benefits – a 95% graduation rate, an increase of 30 percentage points in MCAP ELA scores, increased AP offerings and dual enrollment courses. It’s no wonder CNHS was the first high school to receive an 8-year charter renewal – amazing things are happening!

Introducing 2026 Heart of the School Awardee Craig Rivers of Carver Vocational Technical High School.

Emanating calm and kindness, Principal Rivers has an uncanny ability to bring peace to turbulent situations. Perhaps this explains his career trajectory, as the school district has entrusted him with rebuilding cultures in three large high schools where his steady leadership brought focus and student-centered presence. Now at Carver Vocational Technical High School, Principal Rivers leads with compassion, ensuring that all members of the school community – adult and student alike – are treated with respect. He has also built a strong partnership with The Movement Team, establishing bonds with the community and supporting his students holistically, both inside and outside of his building.

Explore the story of 2026 Heart of the School Awardee Denita Plain of James McHenry Elementary Middle School.

Principal Plain knows how important it is to give every child a reason to be excited to be at school, starting with engaging instruction. She has worked hard to build a school culture where everyone believes in this vision, and the data shows she is succeeding! James McHenry has made significant growth in both ELA and mathematics, has seen chronic absentee rates drop by more than 20 points (including winning the Mayor’s attendance competition three times) and has grown their Gifted and Advanced Learning program from 19 students two years ago to 118 students today. The enrollment is trending in the right direction and there should be no confusion as to why – great things are happening at James McHenry!

Learn more about 2026 Heart of the School Awardee Darrin Brozene of Baltimore Design School.

At Baltimore Design School, Principal Brozene ensures all his students and staff are connected, which can be challenging when leading a school with grades 6 through 12. He expanded a Champion Team of school leaders, each of whom oversees one grade in the school (Mr. Brozene leads sixth grade), which allows for the development of a tight-knit community. This structure also leads to opportunities for intensive support (for both staff and students) and deep data analysis. The results are clear, with double-digit decreases in chronic absenteeism each year since COVID, the growth of their career pathways (adding at least one staff member per pathway under his leadership) and steady increases in math and ELA MCAP scores as well as AP scores. His kindness permeates the building, creating an atmosphere where students and adults are thriving.

Get to know 2026 Heart of the School Awardee Principal Bettye M. Adams of The Historic Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School.

Three words: Performance, Culture, and Excellence. Principal Bettye M. Adams has developed a school full of "Runners" (as coined by Ron Clark), at The Historic Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School – staff who will go the extra mile to ensure their students have what they need to succeed. Whether that is reimagining and investing in its infrastructure and programming for students and parents to elevate its standing in the community or celebrating its Centennial anniversary this year, with a Ripken Foundation STEM Center, a Maggie McIntosh auditorium, and a Baltimore Ravens gymnasium. Students are provided with experiences in the arts, both in-school and out – Principal Adams accepts nothing less than the best for her students. She is also proudly developing a cohort of instructional leaders. Her school has seen the highest MCAP math growth for Black students across the district, second highest math growth for economically disadvantaged children, and second highest ELA growth for students with disabilities. All this translates into a school that is closing in on their fourth star, which no doubt is coming soon!