Maryland Family Network honored Dr. William E. "Brit" Kirwan with the Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care & Education. Under Dr. Kirwan's leadership, the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (aka the (Kirwan Commission) has championed the critical role that quality early care and learning will play in transforming public education in Maryland into a world-class system. (Photo above, L - R: Dr. William E. “Brit” Kirwan; Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, former Superintendent, Maryland State Department of Education; Margaret E. Williams, Commissioner, the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education; and Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director, Maryland Family Network.

The award was presented on October 21, at Historic Oakland in Columbia MD. Speaking at the event were Dr. Kirwan; Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, former Superintendent, Maryland State Department of Education; Margaret E. Williams, Commissioner, the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education; and Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director, Maryland Family Network. N. Scott Phillips, past president, Maryland Family Network, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Past recipients of the Grasmick Award have been Congressman Steny Hoyer, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, State Delegates Sheila Hixson and Adrienne A. Jones, State Senators Nancy King and Richard Madaleno, and Dep. Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Linda Smith.