Principal of Gale-Bailey Elementary School Tangie Scales, Ed.D., was recently named a Connected School Leader by the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) for encouraging her staff to grow professionally and personally, while building and strengthening relationships with students, their families and the community.
MAESP honors principals who find ways to help others develop professional skills while providing time and guidance when they are called. Connected leaders foster a culture of open communications and collaboration which in turn can boost confidence among staff, according to a statement provided by MAESP.
“She builds connections with students, staff and our community,” Megan Parsons, the school’s assistant principal, said. “She shows every day that she is committed to our students and watching them grow.”
Sonia Matthew, Ed.D., an assistant principal at Mary B. Neal Elementary School, nominated Scales for the award. “When I heard about the Connected Leader Award, I immediately thought about Dr. Scales,” she said. “She leads from the heart and believes in connecting with students, staff and families to foster strong and meaningful relationships.”
Matthew has known Scales for 16 years, meeting when they both were teachers in Prince George’s County. In 2012, they worked together after being appointed master teachers by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). They’ve continued their friendship and professional relationship while serving on the Educational Equity Community Task Force through the CCPS Department of Community Engagement and Equity. “Dr. Scales is a servant and transformational leader,” Matthew said. “[She is] deeply invested in equity work.”
Scales grew up in Cleveland, naming her father as her No. 1 role model. When he encouraged her to volunteer at her son’s school, she gave it a try. She soon found she loved working with young children. “I got to work with small children and see the lightbulbs go off,” she said, referring to a student’s understanding of a concept or lesson. “I think I’ve always been a teacher.” She remembered her third-grade teacher asking her to help other students when her work was completed. “I think I’ve been teaching all along,” she said. “It’s been my only career.”
Scales earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Cleveland State University, and recently earned a doctorate in education leadership and policy from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Her first teaching job was in Ohio as a fifth-grade teacher for three years before teaching math to seventh and eighth graders. But her first job as a teenager was working in a grocery store, where she met her future husband, a fellow employee. He climbed the ranks of the store and was a manager when the chain started closing locations in Ohio. Now parents — they have three sons — the couple started to look around to see where they could move for more opportunities. Maryland won out and Scales took a teaching job with Prince George’s County Public Schools where she stayed for five years.
She came to CCPS as a math resource teacher at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School. Scales went into administration as an assistant principal. She served as an AP at Milton M. Somers Middle School, Henry E. Lackey High School and John Hanson Middle School. She was appointed as principal at Gale-Bailey in 2019, which she calls the “best school in Charles County.” She hopes the school’s staff members feel the same way.
“She creates a collaborative environment among her staff at the school building,” Parsons said. “By facilitating regular leadership meetings and by having an open-door policy, our building thrives on a culture of open collaboration.”
Scales meets with a different instructional leadership team each week to go over what’s happening in the areas of reading, math, gifted and data collecting. She meets with grade-level staff to review lesson plans and tries to greet each staff members personally every morning, popping her head into classrooms and walking through the halls to connect with employees before students show up. Scales and Parsons have a standing weekly meeting on top of their daily morning check ins. “She strives to be open and honest while building trust with the staff members,” Parsons said.
Scales tries to greet students as they arrive in the morning. Fist bumps, waves and the occasional hug accompanied by encouraging words are given as the students stream by. “It’s a great way to connect with the students and make sure they’re OK,” Scales said. The daily greeting helps Scales and her staff get an idea of how students are doing. “Sometimes they come in sad and might have to see the counselors, others share good news,” she said. “I try to stay connected that way.”
Scales heads two clubs for Gale-Bailey students. The Girls Dream, Girls Lead was founded at Hanson while Scales was an assistant principal and has now taken root at Gale-Bailey. She also runs the peer mediation group at the school. “I enjoy teaching children how to lead,” she said.
Gale-Bailey uses Move This World (MTW), a social-emotional program, with Scales serving as a MTW ambassador. Through the program, Scales has learned to start every meeting — whether she’s meeting with students, staff or members of the PTO — with a wellness and mindfulness check.
She also likes engaging children in learning about the environment and supporting staff members in “green” efforts. The building service staff recently earned the Green Thumb Award from the CCPS Office of Operations for outstanding groundskeeping. Scales penned a grant for Gale-Bailey’s Green Club and the school was able to revitalize a dogwood tree trial. Recently, the school was named a 2024 Maryland Green School through the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) after nabbing the recognition in 2000, 2010, 2014 and 2019.
Scales, along with 13 other principals of Maryland elementary schools, will be honored as Connected School Leaders at the MAESP fall leadership conference Nov. 14 to 16.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).