Q&A: Maryland State Chief,, With Two Hats, Aims at Collaboration

Nancy S. Grasmick, who this month was named Maryland's Superintendent of Schools, is the only state school chief to simultaneously hold another cabinet-level position: special secretary of the Office for Children, Youth, and Families.

She takes office at a time when a growing number ofpolicymakers have recognized the interconnections between schooling and family problems and have stressed the need to coordinate education and social services in order to better serve children at risk of school failure.

A former associate superintendent in the Baltimore County School District, Ms. Grasmick gave up her most recent post of secretary for juvenile services to take over the helm of the...