12-11-2022 Top Workplaces - Flipbook - Page 28
WINNER MIDSIZE BUSINESS
LEADER
LINDA JACOBS
THE HARBOUR SCHOOL
A pioneering leader in the field
L
inda Jacobs founded The Harbour
School in 1982 as a haven for those needing special education and has led it ever
since.
Those decades of leadership experience
inspire the staff of the school, which now has
two locations, one in Annapolis and the other in
Owings Mills, serving students who have autism,
learning disabilities and emotional difficulties.
“The executive director is very inspiring
because she started this school and built it up
to the great school it is today,” one employee
said when asked about Jacobs’ leadership. “She
always encourages growth and change in order
to make the school even better.”
It’s a field Jacobs initially didn’t even want
to go into. When studying at the University of
Maryland, College Park, Jacobs wanted to be
a history teacher, but she minored in the new
program of special education, which landed her
in her first job.
She never looked back, now having worked
in special education for about 60 years and as a
pioneering leader in the field for much of that
time. She’s now the midsize leader honoree for
Baltimore Sun Media’s 2022 Top Workplaces.
“Dr. Jacobs has many years of experience;
she shares that experience with staff,” another
employee said. “More importantly, Dr. Jacobs
shares information about what is going on with
the school regularly, including at monthly staff
meetings. She is very transparent in the needs of
the school.”
Another employee noted that she consistently
sends “the clear message that this is all for the
children.”
Jacobs took a few moments from the children
to answer questions about leadership and The
Harbour School as a workplace.
How did the pandemic change The
Harbour School as a workplace?
Made us even more aware of our personal
responsibility to take care of each other in order
to carry out our mission.
What makes The Harbour School a good
place to work?
The Harbour School has a strong value
system. We attract and keep staff who believe in
those values and want to be able to live them in
their workplace.
What is a leader’s role in establishing a Top
Workplace?
Keep your organization’s mission front and
center. Define your values and mentor staff to
enable staff to live the mission and the values.
Linda Jacobs, the founder and executive director of The Harbour School, earned the Top Workplaces
leadership award for midsize employers. Jacobs holds her dog, Coco, while Snap, another cocker spaniel, sits
at her feet. PHOTO BY KIM HAIRSTON
28 | 2022 | TOPWORKPLACES