Hereford HS Administrator Named Principal of the Year

From Baltimore County Public Schools: Joseph Jira, principal of Hereford High School, thought he was attending the Maryland Association of Student Councils conference to make a presentation and support the student delegation from his school. He was surprised to learn that he was also there to be presented with the prestigious MASC Wayne Perry Principal of the Year Award for 2016 - 2017.

Jira was nominated by Jordyn Wilson, president of the Hereford High student council and president of Baltimore County Student Councils.

In her nomination, Wilson wrote: “Mr. Jira is in charge of a unique school in that we greatly value traditions while also calling for change… He is a huge proponent and supporter of all students at Hereford High and is personally invested in all of our success. He has always maintained a close relationship with the student council, discussing his ideas with us and helping us reach our goals as well. We have worked together to create spirit days for the whole school during rough times, a campaign for increased awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention, and school wide celebrations of our hard work and success. Mr. Jira quickly transformed us into a Maryland and National Blue Ribbon school and challenges us to improve every day. Everyone in the school loves seeing his smiling face in the hallway each day. You always know where he is by his booming voice that echoes down the hallway and if you pass by him, no matter how late to class you are, you know he is going to stop you and ask all about how you are doing or congratulate you on your most recent accomplishment.”

In a support letter for the nomination, Grade 10 student Emma Wallner wrote: “Principal Jira emulates the importance of the Maryland Association of Student Councils’ mission, involves himself passionately in the Hereford High School student body, displays an immeasurably important leadership role, and contributes to the open and positive climate, not just within the walls of Hereford High School, but in our entire community… Principal Jira has created an entrepreneurial environment in which students are encouraged to start new clubs and share new ideas every day.”

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