Instructional leadership is the backbone of quality education. Quality education is composed of two essential ingredients:

• 01.  The research, development and preparation of the material taught and organization of intended learning outcomes. These responsibilities rest primarily with the curriculum and instructional supervisory staff and
• 02.  The management and supervision of curriculum delivery in every classroom. These challenges are handled by school building administrators. In the Anne Arundel County Public Schools the professionals composing both groups are the members of the Association of Educational Leaders (AEL).

AEL acknowledges and supports the Board of Education's (BOE) responsibility to employ the very best professionals available for these important roles. AEL also accepts the fundamental principle that the interests of children are best served when the pursuit of supervision and administrative excellence is open to and inclusive of all potential candidates; both those who are veterans of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools and those seeking to launch their employment in Anne Arundel County in a Unit 2 leadership position. Thus, in the pursuit of leadership excellence, AEL over many years has established a rigorous and uniform protocol with the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County for the hiring, placement, and promotion of all Unit 2 leadership. These procedures are found in Article 13 of the BOE/AEL Negotiated Agreement.

The BOE and AEL mutually agree and accept that the best guarantee of curricular and instructional supervision and administration is the consistent, unwavering adherence to the spirit, intent and operational provisions of Article 13. Doing otherwise diminishes leadership quality assurances for which both the Board and AEL strive. AEL does not administer Article 13. It can only monitor its application. The Promotional Practices Committee performs this task.

The 2008-09 Promotional Practices Committee members are:

Will Myers
South River Senior High

Edie Picken
Northeast Senior High

Charles Janski
Bodkin Elementary

Frank Chilipko
Glendale Elementary