November 10, 2025

Dear GNPS Community,

The Board of Education accepted the resignation of E.M. Baker Elementary Principal, Dr. Michael Grimaldi, at the October 16, 2025 public meeting of the Board of Education. Dr. Grimaldi has accepted a position outside of GNPS and will be departing the district effective November 14, 2025. I am sure you will join me in wishing Dr. Grimaldi well in his new position. We thank him for his 7 years of dedicated service to the students, faculty, staff and community of E.M. Baker. We are confident that the positive impact he has had on a generation of learners won’t soon be forgotten.

Dr. Grimaldi’s resignation created a principal vacancy at E.M. Baker School. It is anticipated that the Board of Education, at their November 12, 2025 Board meeting, will appoint Dr. Heather Sweet-Lazos to serve as E.M. Baker’s interim principal through the end of this school year. We are grateful for Dr. Sweet-Lazos’ leadership and support as E.M. Baker’s assistant principal over the past 9+ years, and we are confident that her diverse leadership skill set will continue to serve our district well as interim principal at E.M. Baker. 

I am pleased to further announce that it is anticipated that the Board will appoint veteran administrator Kathleen Murray as E.M. Baker’s acting assistant principal, effective November 17, 2025, at the public meeting set to take place on November 12, 2025.

Ms. Murray is a familiar face in GNPS, having served as an elementary building administrator in the district for seven years before her retirement in 2021. Ms. Murray dedicated her entire career to elementary education, which includes over 25 years as a classroom teacher before becoming an administrator. She joined our district in 2014 as the assistant principal at John F. Kennedy Elementary, and she served as principal at Parkville School from 2018 through 2021. 

I am confident that Ms. Murray will be a strong source of support for the E. M. Baker administrative team, staff and students. Her experience will help ensure a smooth finish to the school year. 

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Murray to the E.M. Baker family. We look forward to the many exciting school activities scheduled in the coming months!

Warm regards,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools