Jennifer Malachowski Named Interim Head of Lower School

Indian Creek is pleased to announce that Jennifer Malachowski has been appointed Interim Head of Lower School, to begin in the 2019-20 school year. This news follows the announcement that current Lower School Head Amy Benson plans to transition to the role of Guidance Coordinator for the Lower School next year. Over her 21 years at ICS, Mrs. Malachowski has been known for her ability to foster meaningful relationships with (and among) students, parents, and faculty members. Her philosophy of leadership is that being present, available, and understanding in her approach helps to establish a comfortable learning environment where everyone can achieve.

Currently the Associate Head of Grades 7 & 8, Mrs. Malachowski has been instrumental in ensuring the successful transition of these students into the Upper School community. Her extensive educational expertise spans many areas, including specialized knowledge in neuro-science in education, teacher mentoring, technology integration in the classroom, and creating an enriched school culture focused on the whole child. 

Mrs. Malachowski has served Indian Creek as Associate Head of Grades 7 & 8 since 2017, while also teaching seventh through ninth grade math classes and serving as the advisor for the seventh and eighth grade Student Government Association. She is the co-creator and Director of the BLinc (Blended Learning at Indian Creek) program, and has been involved in the program's design, implementation, and growth since 2014. Prior to this, Mrs. Malachowski was the Associate Head of Middle School for 12 years. Some of her proudest accomplishments during this time include creating a robust student advisory program, designing a curriculum that created opportunities for students and teachers to form meaningful relationships, instituting a mentor program for teachers, and collaborating with other teachers and administrators to ensure that each student's unique strengths, passions, and needs are being fostered and encouraged.

As a classroom teacher from 1998 - 2006, Mrs. Malachowski taught math, English, and Spanish to Indian Creek Lower and Middle School students. Before this, she was a fifth grade teacher for several years at a Baltimore County Public School. These experiences have contributed greatly to her passion for education. "In my 20 plus years of teaching, I have found it the most rewarding to see students grow not only intellectually, but also emotionally, physically, and socially. Knowing that I have been a small part of their incredible journey has been the most gratifying of all."

Mrs. Malachowski holds her Master of Science degree in Education, with a concentration in Gifted Education, from Johns Hopkins University. She has also earned an Advanced Professional Certificate in Educational Leadership in Independent Schools from Johns Hopkins University. Her Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Saint Mary's University is in Elementary Education.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Malachowski has continued to seek opportunities to expand her knowledge and share her practice with others. She has assisted with two AIMS self-studies at ICS, as well as the five-year evaluations, and many other curriculum reviews, and serves as a member of the Pre-K-12th grade Math Curriculum team. She also regularly attends education conferences, and has presented on the national stage several times, most recently at OESIS in Los Angeles, California, at the AIMS Technology Retreat in St. Michaels, Maryland, CITE in Amelia Island, Florida, NBOA, and served on the OESIS National Middle School Leaders panel. Her article, "BLinc: One School's Foray into Blended Learning," which she co-authored with Associate Head of Upper School Matt McCormick was published by the National Association for Independent Schools. Mrs. Malachowski was also featured in the February 2016 edition of What's Up? Magazine as an Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Malachowski is excited to join the Lower School team, as her daughters Cate '23 and Grace '26 have flourished in the program. "The Indian Creek philosophy meshes with my personal philosophy on how children best learn and grow. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this faculty, whom I've admired for years, to continue the enhancement of our academic program as we merge campuses and integrate programs to truly become one Pre-K through grade 12 school."
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Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland.  Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.