Monarch Academy Annapolis, a public contract school with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, named Miguel Vicente as bilingual student recruitment and community engagement liaison and Keith Rowel as family and student support specialist. Vicente and Rowel will work to support families and contribute to the building of an inclusive school culture.
Monarch Academy Annapolis restructured and expanded its staffing model to increase proactive supports for students and families and to grow family partnerships.
“In order to ensure maximum success for our students we must educate their hearts and minds, attend to their social-emotional wellness and authentically collaborate with families and our community,” said Principal Rachel Amstutz. “With a richly diverse student body, we are honored to have Miguel and Keith join our team. They each bring years of experience and a deep passion for the work in which we are engaged. They will help us serve all of our students and families, celebrate diversity, build bridges within our community, provide a high level of targeted support and to connect with and engage our families in their child’s education and development.”
As bilingual student recruitment and community engagement liaison, Vicente will work to build an inclusive and culturally informed support network for school families, encouraging family advocacy and facilitating a sense of community. With over 10 years of experience working with Latino nonprofit organizations, Vicente was executive director of Education Based Latino Outreach in Baltimore and previously served with Baltimore County Public Library, Maryland Relay and Morgan State University.
“We’re transforming Monarch Academy Annapolis into an inclusive hub within the community for the Hispanic families of Annapolis,” Vicente said. “As a Spanish speaker, I have the privilege of reaching out to Spanish-speaking families, making them feel welcome at Monarch Academy Annapolis and working toward the success of all of our children, families, teachers and administrators.”
As family and student support specialist, Rowel will support students and families through the school’s Student Support Center and collaborate with the staff to recommend interventions and strategies to help students learn and grow. Previously, Rowel taught for the Anne Arundel County Health Department’s Strengthening Families program for which he received a citation from the county executive. He brings nearly 15 years of experience with Head Start supporting children from low-income families. He also directs music at First Baptist Church of Annapolis and volunteers in the Annapolis community.
“I consider it to be an absolute honor to have this unique opportunity to pour back into the Monarch Academy Annapolis families and communities,” Rowel said. “MAA has a spirit of unity that is driven from the heart of diversity. Having cultural differences is what makes learning so awesome. It is because of diversity that we get to have a bird’s eye view of a whole different world in which we live.”
Monarch Academy charter and contract schools in Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Laurel, Maryland are affiliate members of The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild Alliance include The Children’s Guild, The Children’s Guild D.C. Public Charter School, The Academy for Working Students (TAWS), TranZed Apprenticeships, Transformation Education Institute and The National Children’s Guild Fund.
