Reply to Blair Magnet Coordinator Ostrander appointment to Supervisor of Academic Programs (Regional Magnets), effective Feb 2026

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Reply to "Blair Magnet Coordinator Ostrander appointment to Supervisor of Academic Programs (Regional Magnets), effective Feb 2026"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What does a magnet coordinator do?[/quote]

A magnet parent here. From what I can observe, he coordinates AMC, AIME, and several other competition events that require testing center qualification and registration procedures every few years. He coordinates the annual field trip for sophomore, and annual research symposium presentation where he'll need to invite judges, invite speakers, etc. He help a lot on logistics of ARML practice and trip. He manages and distributes internship opportunities. For several student-led events (e.g., mbmt, mbit, etc.), he provides logistic supports. For a lot of out-of-school competition that students participate (e.g., science fair, conference presentation), he needs to serve as the school gatekeeper to sign off whatever legal documents needs to be signed. I'm not sure how much work he needs to do for senior college application, but I won't suppose those works are easy-peasy. [/quote]

How many if these activities will continue under the STEM regional program?[/quote]

What makes you think any of that will be offered in all six STEM regional programs? It'll become STEM, not SMCS.

I've heard wonderful things about Mr. O. The cynic in me wonders if he is getting out of Dodge while he can. It is good to leave on a high note.[/quote]

[b]That's quite cynical since he's staying inside MCPS. The complaint about expansion of programs, particularly STEM, has been "no one will know how to set up a new program."

Now they have recruited basically the most qualified person in MCPS to take on the task of standing up the new programs, and people are still complaining. [/quote][/b]

This is certainly a positive development. But I will reserve my judgement until I see their next presentation. There are currently too many regions/programs. They will have to revise some of the statements they made in the past if they are really serious about building a strong new magnet network. One of them is that they don't need new teachers. Mr. O knows very well that most of current MCPS math and science teachers can't get an A in math and science programs he helped establish at Blair let alone teach them.  [/quote]

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