Leading with Purpose: A Conversation with Angela Scott at Baltimore Curriculum Project

When Angela Scott began working at the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) in 2001, she was fresh out of college and in need of a full-time job. She had heard about BCP, and when the Office Manager position opened up, she applied.

Twenty-five years later, Angela is BCP’s Director of Human Resources and Purchasing. In 2003, she transitioned into purchasing, adding human resources, payroll, and benefits three years later. She has watched BCP—one of Maryland’s largest charter school operators—grow since its founding in 1996. She’s also the proud mother of two BCP alumnae, daughters Alex and Courtney, who attended Hampstead Hill Academy.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we spoke with Angela about BCP, her tenure, and where she sees BCP going in its next 30 years.

Talk about BCP’s growth in your areas of oversight, human resources and purchasing.

“In the beginning, everything was on a small scale: payroll, benefits, and ordering.  At that time, we were mainly doing consulting work, implementing Direct Instruction in six Baltimore City Public Schools. We were also knee deep in writing curriculum based on the Core Knowledge standards. Once the staff writers had completed publishing those lessons, we mass-produced them.

I was responsible for getting those lessons printed and mailed out, using a local print shop, with whom we still partner today, Sir Speedy, BWI. We have stopped selling those lessons, but that was a major part of what BCP did circa 2001-2012. Once we started operating schools under City Schools’ New School Initiative status, we started employing school-based employees, which in turn added more responsibility with Human Resources (HR) functions. I then began to take HR-related courses and trainings to enhance my knowledge of HR. This allowed me to ensure the organization’s compliance in necessary areas of operations.

Taking on more schools also increased operations, such as purchasing. We began to purchase curriculum and supplies for our schools regularly. In this role, I also oversee the financial obligations of the organization. As both accounts payable and receivable, vendors know they can call on me any time to get bills paid, find out the status of a bill, etc. Staff know they can call on us to help solve/answer any payroll, personnel, or benefits problems/questions. I have also overseen our fiscal audit for over two decades. Now, fast-forward 25 years, and I have an amazing assistant of five years, Shandra Womack, who stays knee-deep in all things HR, benefits, and purchasing. Together, we keep the ship sailing smoothly!”

What do you feel is BCP’s biggest success since 1996?

“BCP’s biggest accomplishment to date is the fact that we are still here, doing the work. Not many organizations can say that. We are still boots-on-the-ground, making sure that every student who enters our schools receives the education they deserve.”

How have you seen BCP evolve from its founding to now?

“BCP has evolved from the little engine that could to the mighty engine that does. Our core staff is small, but our schools, staff, families, and communities continue to grow. Our partnerships have grown. Our board of directors has grown.”

Your daughters are BCP grads. What was that experience like as a BCP parent?

“I saw firsthand the opportunities our students get that traditional schools may not have the option to benefit from. BCP allowed me to be very active in their schooling from Pre-K through 12th grade. They allowed me the flexibility to attend various activities and even encouraged me to participate in events such as National History Day Judging at Hampstead Hill, PTO, a Leaders Go Places Speaker at Hampstead Hill, and a host of other events and activities during their high school and college careers.”

What do you feel their BCP education gave to them?

“Both of my daughters are high achievers. (I have no clue where they get it from, LOL.) They love to learn. That learning earned them above average GPA’s their entire academic career, from Pre-K through high school and now in college. Having access to Direct Instruction allowed them to be in spaces with students on the same level. It allowed them to be pushed higher and higher. They both attended Baltimore City College High School, where they graduated among the top in their classes. My oldest, Alex, was in the top five, and my youngest, Courtney, was in the top two.

Alex will be graduating from New York University in May from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music with a degree in Recorded Music. She will be dropping her first EP this spring. Courtney is currently an Honors student at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Environmental Science.”

It’s Women’s History Month. Who are your female mentors? Why?

“My female mentors are the women in my life who have made an impact on me in one way or another. I’ve seen them struggle and persevere. I’ve seen them succeed when others say they couldn’t. I’ve seen them carry others on their backs. I’ve seen them go unnoticed and still get the job done.”

As a mother of daughters, how have you approached mentoring them?

“I always tell them to use their resources. They have so many amazing women in their lives who have done and are doing amazing things. They are just a phone call or a text away! Never stop believing and always reach for the stars.”

Thanks, Angela, for your leadership at BCP!