Opening Doors to Tomorrow
School Administration Career Builds Foundation for the Future
Teachers have a profound influence on their students in the moments they spend together in the classroom. Dr. Kelly Griffith feels the same applies to school administration, where everyone is working together to create an environment that will positively affect their students’ lives.
“I love learning and going to school,” Griffith said. “You have to create that climate for children so they love coming to school, too. Becoming a superintendent was a way for me to have a larger impact.”
Griffith wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a child giving lessons to her stuffed animals. She began her career teaching in Delaware, and after teaching in three more states, she joined Maryland’s Talbot County Public Schools in 1988. She was eventually appointed superintendent in 2014.
During her last year as superintendent, she helped create a strategic plan to raise the schools’ graduation rate from 85% to 98%, and the dropout rate went from 10% to less than 1%.
It was the same year she was awarded Maryland Superintendent of the Year. The greatest pride for her was being surrounded by passionate people who all worked together for their students.
“That’s why I was able to feel good about retiring,” Griffith said. “It was a great time to look back at what we’d accomplished and be confident in the foundation for the future.”
Griffith believes that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.
She also believes you learn a lot from the people around you.
“If you take something from everyone you meet, it inspires you to be the best person you can be,” Griffith said.
Even in retirement, Griffith doesn’t believe her work is done. She is still heavily involved with the community and with SU. In recognition of her leadership and dedication to the community, she was honored with the SU Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“The Eastern Shore is a very special place, with an amazing University full of opportunities,” Griffith said. “SU has so much potential to open doors for our kids. We should make it the best it can be.”
Top: Griffith proudly sees her students off at their graduation from Easton High School in 2019.
If you take something from everyone you meet, it inspires you to be the best person you can be.
Kelly Griffith ’83, M’91
