Anchoring leadership support and development by leveraging leadership coaching and strategic planning for improved organizational and professional development

Dr. Martirano will serve as a support and resource to newly appointed superintendents and leadership team members with onboarding, transition planning and ongoing one-to-one coaching.

Everyone needs a coach. Dr. Martirano’s expertise, authentic and caring style and certified training as a leadership coach can build confidence, transform effectiveness and be a guide on the side to support and anchor your leadership journey on a path of success and resilience.

  • Pre K- 12 educational leadership positions, particularly the position of superintendent of schools, can be emotionally challenging, lonely, and overwhelming.  They are positions that are not for the faint of heart and require emotional fortification and support.  This is not just true for new and novice leaders but for seasoned superintendents and C-suite leaders as well.  These transitional moments and challenges require support and a space for confidential and trusting conversations.  Dr. Martirano will ensure the success of the superintendent and members of the C-suite leadership team by providing leadership coaching for organizational, professional and personal performance.  In the coaching interactions, Dr. Martirano will engage in a 360 degree review and coach the leader through, entry, transitional and ongoing performance moments.  Ongoing support and coaching will be provided throughout the rhythm of the school year.  He will provide a safe space and a sounding board to support the leader during any and all challenges that are encountered.  The priority is to be in complete and focused service  to the superintendent and C-suite educational leaders where confidentiality and trust are honored and cultivated.

  • Strategic Planning is the key ingredient to ensure improved student performance.  What get's measured gets done in a clear, aligned and precise way where random acts of 

    improvement are not accepted.  High leverage strategies, researched-based strategies and proven strategies that work will be developed and included.  As a seasoned superintendent of schools, who has a proven record of improving academic achievement, closing achievement gaps and improving graduation rates in all districts and state where he has served, Dr. Martirano will work with the superintendent, the leadership team and the Board of Education to develop a fully articulated plan with goals, and accountability measures linked to the budget and resources .  Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) will be developed as a way to communicate to the public about successes and areas that need to improve.  The plan must be a living and dynamic document that assists in improving student performance and organizational performance

Credibility and reality based experiences that will serve to assist, support and develop clients

Proven track record of results & serving as a PreK-12 administrator, local superintendent and state superintendent

About Michael

Dr. Michael J. Martirano is a certified leadership coach having completed the Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance program at American University in Washington, DC and he is the CEO of Martirano Leadership Solutions, LLC. Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow for the Center of Digital Education. Dr. Martirano is a seasoned educational leader, serving for over 40 years in the public education sector.

His areas of expertise include leadership coaching for superintendents, C-suite educational leaders and principals and keynoting presentations for school system educational leaders. He has served as a science and math teacher, a principal and an assistant principal at the elementary, middle and high school levels, a central office administrator, a local superintendent in two counties in the state of Maryland and as the state superintendent of schools for the great state of West Virginia.

He holds a bachelor of science degree and two masters of education degrees from the University of Maryland and a doctorate in School Management and Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Martirano is an award-winning educator who has been the recipient of over thirty awards and honors during his distinguished career including being named the Maryland Superintendent of Year, the Outstanding Alumni from the College of Education at the University of Maryland, the Most Admired CEO and the Innovator of the Year by the Daily Record in the state of Maryland and the Exceptional School Superintendent Leadership Award given by the National Center for Children and Families.

He is passionate about supporting and developing the next generation of educational leaders.

Core Competencies

  • Proficient at building lasting relationships with individuals and organizations through a coaching model and leadership development

  • Translates strategy into goals into tasks into deliverables with a defined strategic plan and policy development

  • Identifies problems and implements solutions

  • Inspirational compassionate and charismatic leader with experience in change management and the ability to connect with people

  • Versatile and adept at managing multiple priorities

  • Skilled communicator and dynamic public speaker, presenter and trainer

  • Adept at analyzing situations and developing adaptable solutions

  • Places value on collaboration and alliances

  • Focuses on the development of a workplace where equity, diversity and inclusion are valued and supported

  • Proven success leading large complex organizations as a CEO

  • Skilled at leading cross functional teams with a mission driven purpose

  • Proficient at leading and coaching C-Suite leaders

  • Extensive experience working successfully with governance boards ranging in size from 5 to 9 members

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and strategic thinker

  • Skilled at developing, implementing and managing large and complex budgets over $2.5 billion

  • Promotes decisions that are data-driven

  • Engagement of government and elected officials through public testimony, public hearings and advocacy and is unflappable

Testimonials

  • “Dr. Martirano is a natural and highly effective leadership coach. He has the rare trait of combining 19 credible years of superintendent expertise with empathy, compassion and support. He understands leaders and he helped me reflect on my work in a more thoughtful, meaningful and deliberate way. I am a better leader because of my coaching interactions with me.”

    Dr. Theo Cramer
    Superintendent of Schools

  • “Dr Martirano combines his high IQ (Intelligent Quotient) with his even higher EQ (Emotional Quotient) to provide high quality coaching to educational leaders. Every educational leader should have a leadership coach like Dr. Martirano who challenges them to see new perspectives while supporting them for growth and higher performance. His highly developed listening skills combined with the powerful questions that he asks are designed to support and challenge everyone that he works with.”

    Kirk Thompson
    Human Resources Expert

  • “Simply and directly put, Dr. M. is an amazing leadership coach. His presence with me allowed me to receive the support that I needed during a major career transition. His reflective listening skills and empathy conveyed to me allowed me to shift my perspective and see my concerns more clearly. I felt 100% support.”

    James LeMon
    PreK-12 Educational Leader