Crystal R. Harris is the DRU Judy Center Coordinator at Dorothy I. Height Elementary School with Baltimore City Public Schools. Crystal holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from St. Maryland’s College of Maryland and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Social Work.  Crystal has been an employee of Baltimore City Public Schools since 2004. Crystal has worked in early childhood special education for 7 years. In 2013, Crystal began working with the DRU Judy Center as an Assistant Coordinator.  In 2015, Crystal became the Judy Center Coordinator at John Eager Howard. In 2018, the school name changed to Dorothy I. Height Elementary School after merging with and another Baltimore City Public School. 

Crystal was a part of the second cohort of the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP) at UMBC 2021. This Leadership Program helped to enhance Crystal’s leadership skills with early learning teachers and Judy Center staff. This leadership program helped Crystal learn how to communicate effectively, empower staff members and many other skills as she navigates systems and relationships. The skills I learned from this class, have translated to the Instructional Leadership Team. I am learning to become a vocal member of the team and provide suggestions on instruction. Currently, Crystal is finishing up a year long Train of Trainer (ToT) Program through MECLP. This programs will prepare Crystal to potentially teach the course to other fellows in the program. In addition to the ToT, Crystal will co-facilitate a MECLP webinar on November 10 titled From Idea to Realization – The Story of how the Children’s Equity Project was Built.