Broadneck Alumna Always Knew She’d Be Back

Sometimes you just know. When Arnold resident Stephanie Seidl was a student at Broadneck High School, she knew she wanted to go into education and could not imagine herself anywhere else but in Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ (AACPS) Broadneck cluster. After attending college in North Carolina, Seidl returned to Maryland and began her teaching career in Anne Arundel County.

For the last five years, she was the assistant principal at Glen Burnie Park Elementary School; this school year, she was promoted to her first principal assignment at Belvedere Elementary School, in Arnold, of course.

“Having my first principal job at Belvedere is a homecoming,” she said. “I have felt embraced and supported by the community as a whole, truly working as a partnership to ensure all our students succeed. The teachers and staff are fully committed to our school; some have been here their entire careers, which says a lot.”

Seidl indicated that starting a new position can be equally challenging and joyful, even when you are right where you have always wanted to be.

“One of the hardest parts, but also one of the fun parts, has been starting all over getting to know a new community, staff and students,” she said. “I loved my time at Glen Burnie Park and thrived on the relationships I had built there. It’s hard to start all over, but it has also been a blast getting to know our students and their families, as well as all the amazing staff members at Belvedere.”

During the new AACPS principal selection process, communities and staff members were polled about what they were looking for in their next principal, things the school does well, and any changes they hoped to see. Seidl said she has been working diligently since the summer to check items off the resulting list.

“I have the list hanging behind my desk and revisit it often. Both community members and staff asked for more fun, and that is something I am all about,” she said. “I believe that school should be a fun place for learning, while still holding high academic standards and instruction for students.

“I have focused my energy on creating a fun and joyful environment, from bringing back the Halloween parade, to Friday morning dance parties at arrival, spirit days, and random games and fun each month for the students and staff,” Seidl continued.

The Belvedere staff reported they wanted a more consistent system for school-wide behavior expectations and support. Seidl has focused on the school’s Positive Behavioral Supports and Intervention systems, using “Bobcat Bucks” to recognize positive behaviors and enable students to access the Bobcat Shop each month.

In addition, Seidl is looking forward to and “actively working toward being recognized as the five-star school we know we are. We are so close to a five-star school rating and our school staff is working so hard to get that last star,” Seidl said. “We have been focusing on analyzing student-specific data to make informed instructional decisions that will help all our students grow and succeed, giving each what they need specifically. Seeing how hard our teachers work every day, I know we will get there.”

Seidl describes her leadership style as transparent and collaborative. She is not afraid to walk through things together with teachers and staff, firmly believing that through collaboration and communication, anything can be accomplished.

As she approaches the end of her first year as a principal, she is already imagining the great things to come.

“What a whirlwind! The school year is flying by so fast. It has been a lot of hard work and long days and nights, but I am so happy to be here,” Seidl said. “I truly feel like I was meant to serve here for a reason and am excited to see what is to come."