The Board of Education of Harford County named the current Executive Director of Elementary Education Patricia L. Skebeck as interim superintendent today, January 5, 2009, to fill the void left by the sudden passing of Dr. Jacqueline C. Haas. Mrs. Skebeck will serve as interim superintendent until July 1, 2009.
Mrs. Skebeck is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She received her Master of Education in Elementary Education from Towson State University and went on for postgraduate work at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.
Her career in the field of education began in 1964 as a fi rst grade teacher at Mars Estates Elementary School in the Baltimore County Public School system. In 1979, she made the move to the Harford County Public School System touching the lives of third grade students at Hillsdale Elementary School before accepting a position as a Teaching Assistant Principal at Meadowvale Elementary School in 1987. She moved on to a non-teaching Assistant Principal placement at Youth’s Benefit Elementary School in 1989. As the principal of Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School from 1990 until 1996 and then at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School, Mrs. Skebeck implemented many academic and outreach programs for the students and surrounding communities until becoming the Executive Director of Elementary Education in 1997.
Mrs. Skebeck has served as the Chairperson of the Elementary Grading and Reporting Committee for Harford County Public Schools, as well as serving on the Statewide Task Force on Norm-Referenced Testing and as part of the Statewide Educator Talent Pool, serving in an advisory capacity for the Maryland State Department of Education. In 1994, Mrs. Skebeck was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the education field when she was presented with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
“Mrs. Skebeck has nearly 30 years of experience with Harford County Public Schools having been a teacher, administrator, and an executive director,” Board of Education President Patrick L. Hess commented. “In this difficult time, the Board needed to select someone who could help us continue the work initiated by Dr. Haas until a permanent Superintendent is found. We felt that Mrs. Skebeck was the right person for the job.”
The Board will work in conjunction with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education to begin a nationwide superintendent search that will begin immediately in order to allow a permanent superintendent to be appointed by July 2009.
“I have known Jackie Haas my entire career with Harford County Public Schools having taught along side of her,” stated HCPS Interim Superintendent Patricia Skebeck. “There is no way to replace Jackie, I am honored that I have the opportunity to carry on her legacy by moving Harford County Public Schools forward through this devastating time in order to fulfi ll our mission.”
I’ve known Pat since the early 80’s…both as a friend and a parent…and find her to be fair and honest in all her dealings. She treats each child as if he/she was her own. Parents in Harford County can feel priviliged to have this lady at the helm.