Meade High School Principal Ryan Durr has been named a Mid-Atlantic International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme School Leader of the Year. The award, one of three bestowed by coordinators and administrators from the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools, honors Dr. Durr for profoundly shaping the school’s journey to fully embrace the IB Middle Years Programme.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award from the Mid-Atlantic IB,” said Dr. Durr, who is in his third year as principal at the school. “It is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our entire school community. I share this honor with my incredible team, which works tirelessly to ensure that IB is woven into the fabric of our school community.”
During his time at Meade, Dr. Durr has strengthened the school’s IB identity and has embedded its philosophy into all aspects of the school’s culture. He has prioritized collaborative planning by ensuring that teachers have dedicated time to work together, aligning instructional practices with IB standards.
“Under Dr. Durr’s guidance, our school has transitioned from being an IB school in name only to one that truly lives and breathes the IB mission,” Meade’s IB Diploma & Career-Related Programme Coordinator Jennifer Quinn wrote in her nomination of Dr. Durr. “One of Dr. Durr’s most impactful initiatives has been the incorporation of IB principles into our School Improvement Plan, ensuring that growth and development remain aligned with IB’s core values. Additionally, Dr. Durr has expanded the use of standards-aligned grading, promoting consistency and transparency in assessing student learning.”
Dr. Durr has also placed a heavy focus on student engagement and implemented professional development efforts aimed at enhancing instructional strategies that foster active learning.
Meade is one of six IB secondary schools in the county, joining Annapolis and Old Mill high schools, and MacArthur Middle School, Annapolis Middle School and Old Mill Middle School North.