The Children's Guild

The Children's Guild founded in 1953, is an affiliate of The Children's Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C., and dedicated to “Transforming how America Cares for and Educates its Children and Youth.” The Children's Guild operates evidence-based behavioral health and child welfare programs, public charter and special education schools, and a national training and consulting program. The president and CEO since 1994 is Dr. Andrew L. Ross, Ph.D., LCSW-C.

The Children's Guild Alliance also includes Monarch Academy charter and contract schools, TranZed Academy for Working Students, Transformation Education Institute, the National At Risk Education Network, TranZed Conference Center, The National Children's Guild Fund, TranZed Apprenticeship Services and the Monarch Preschool College Park. The Children Guild is one of the largest providers of special education, group living, treatment foster care and family mental health services in the state of Maryland. The Children's Guild's programs are guided by Transformation Education, an organizational philosophy that fosters a culture of flexibility. This culture creates management and staff who are agile thinkers. This assures children are treated as individuals and taught the way they learn best.

Dr. Ross, president & CEO of The Children's Guild and The Children's Guild Alliance, is also the co-founder of Transformation Education and the Transformation Education Institute, which provides innovative ideas and makes the latest developments in neuroscience accessible to teachers, social workers, parents and employees of child-serving organizations all over the U.S. and several foreign countries.

A seasoned executive and visionary in the fields of education, group care and mental health settings, child welfare and family services, Dr. Ross has established six charter schools and has co-authored two books and numerous journal articles pertaining to the treatment of emotionally troubled children and the management of organizations designed to serve disadvantaged children. Amongst his honors, he received an Innovator of the Year Award and a Corporate Culture Award in Baltimore for developing the Transformation Education philosophy and an Innovator of the Year Award from the National Association of Private Special Education Centers for his work in special education. He is past president of the Towsontowne Rotary Club and Foundation.

Dr. Ross has a Ph.D. and MSSA from Case Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Science in Cleveland, Ohio and a B.A. in Psychology from Theil College, in Greenville, PA.

Another organization of the same name is based in Buffalo, New York.