So. Md Education News

News from the local county public and private schools and colleges.
The Board of Education voted on April 26 to approve the first charter school in Charles County. The Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) will open in the 2022-2023 school year as a middle school serving Grades 6-7 and expand the following year to include Grades 6-8. Located in Waldorf, the school will count as the school system’s ninth middle school. PISOTA will have an arts-focused program of study using the Cambridge International Education curriculum that meets Maryland...
Maurice J. McDonough High School will perform the rock musical “Ranked” 7 p.m. May 14 and 15, and 2 p.m. May 16. The play — rated PG for mild language — tells the story a dystopian high school where grades and GPAs are the only things that matter. Anyone who is “above the rank” gets perks and special treatment. Those “below the rank” struggle to get by. Tickets are “pay what you can,” with donations accepted to fund next year’s program. The show will be livestreamed. To order the show, go...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 26, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 LEONARDTOWN, MD – The Board of Education of St. Mary’s County will be meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, with executive session beginning at 5:00 p.m., followed by an open meeting at 6:00 p.m. Mask will be required, and social distancing will be enforced. The public may also watch the meeting live via www.smcps.org/streaming. For more details, please call (301)...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 23, 2021 Joint Release: PNC Bank The Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County, Maryland St. Mary’s County Health Department St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office St. Mary’s County Public Schools LEONARDTOWN, MD (April 23, 2021) – The St. Mary’s County Equity Task Force, in partnership with the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County, Maryland (HASMC), is pleased to announce plans for a future Behavioral Health Hub for St. Mary’s County. The 6,200...
Visiting Professor Thomas M. Evans Cited in Paper Published in the Journal Nature Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 6:36 pm April 22, 2021 Visiting Professor in Biology Thomas M. Evans predicted early lampreys did not have a larval stage in a paper he coauthored in 2018 titled “The Evolution of Lamprey (Petromyzontida) Life History and the Origin of Metamorphosis,” which is now cited in a paper published in the prestigious journal Nature. Lampreys are a primitive fish, that look like an...
Professor of Art Carrie Patterson’s Work to be Featured at the Art Gallery in BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 1:31 pm April 22, 2021 Professor of Art Carrie Patterson’s work was selected for an exhibition at the D/E Art Gallery in Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, curated by Jack Rasmussen, director and curator of the American University Museum and an MSAC Councilor. The exhibition is titled “Independent Artists: Select Maryland...
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is hosting a Virtual Career Fair for high school juniors and seniors. This year’s fair is split into two parts: online presentations for students to view in advance, and live Zoom sessions on April 28 with presenters. Videos from participating organizations and companies are posted here on the CCPS website. Students can view the videos between now and April 28. On April 28, students will receive Zoom meeting details through their Synergy Mail accounts...
Professor of Art Sue Johnson’s artwork published in “New American Paintings” Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 9:36 am April 22, 2021 Professor of Art Sue Johnson’s artwork has been published in the current issue of “New American Paintings,” No. 148 South Region. In the highly competitive selection process, Johnson was one of only 40 painters selected by Emily Stamey, curator of exhibitions at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, University of North Carolina Greensboro. “New American Paintings”...
The Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill have launched efforts to address educational equity in Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Efforts include the adoption of a Board policy on educational equity, the launch of an Equity Task Force and a Superintendent Task Force on African American Employee Experiences, targeted bias training for all staff and the recent creation of a National Response Committee. The mission of CCPS is to provide an opportunity for all...
The Board of Education at its April 20 meeting recognized four annual Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) resolutions. The resolutions highlight Administrative Professionals Week, Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week, National Physical Education and Sport Week, and Teacher Appreciation Week. CCPS recognizes Administrative Professionals Week annually in April. This year, Administrative Professionals Week falls on April 19-23. The recognition emphasizes the supportive role...
Constance Johnson, a school counselor at William B. Wade Elementary School, was recently named the Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Maryland School Counselor Association. When Johnson started with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in 2014, she split her time between Wade and C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School before beginning at Wade full time at the start of the 2015-16 school year. At Wade she is the counselor for kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grades. Despite her...
The Board of Education of Charles County honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students at its April 20 meeting. School principals annually select one student and staff member for Board recognition. Students are honored for accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility. Safety guidelines changed student and staff recognitions at Board meetings this school year to a virtual format. The recognition ceremony featured pre-recorded...
The Board of Education at its April 20 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff members for their commitment to the school system and student success. Each month, the Board honors staff members chosen by their school principals for recognition who demonstrate their dedication to teaching and learning. The recognition ceremony was held in a virtual format and featured pre-recorded introductions and recognitions from school principals. Honored by the Board were Shannon...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 LEONARDTOWN, MD – The St. Mary's County Public Schools' Ethics Panel will hold a meeting on Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650. Mask will be required, and social distancing will be enforced. For more information, call 301-475-5511, ext. 32178.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 Dr. Maureen Montgomery, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32135 LEONARDTOWN, MD – Superintendent of Schools, Dr. J. Scott Smith, would like to announce the outstanding employees that have been recognized for their service and dedication to St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Ms. Irene Hall, Food Service Manager at Spring Ridge Middle School, has been...
The Board of Education is holding an in-person work session at 6 p.m., Monday, April 26, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The Starkey Building is located at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata. The meeting will stream live on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, www.ccboe.com. CCPS also will post the meeting on CCPSTV under the Board meeting menu at ccboe.com. Public forum for this meeting will be held in a hybrid format of both in-person and virtual speakers...
Director of Wellness Center Laurie Scherer Earns St. Mary’s College President’s Trailblazer Award Gretchen Phillips April 19, 2021 - 1:56 pm April 19, 2021 St. Mary’s College of Maryland President Tuajuanda C. Jordan presented the 2021 President’s Trailblazer Award to the woman who took the lead on the College’s health and wellness response during the Covid-19 pandemic. On top of her regular duties overseeing the personal and mental health needs of students, Wellness Center Director...
Premiere of New Work for Wind Ensemble by David Froom, in Salado, TX David Froom April 19, 2021 - 9:17 am April 19, 2021 As our year-long pandemic begins to ease, some public live music performance is returning. The First Cavalry Division Army Band, stationed at Fort Hood (Texas), will give the first performance of "Manna" Variations. The concert is on May 15, part of the "Tablerock Festival of Salado." The event is listed here: http://www.tablerock.org/events.php
SMCM Psychology Professor Selected to Serve on Association of State Provincial Psychology Boards Advisory Group Angela Draheim April 16, 2021 - 3:01 pm April 16, 2021 Visiting Associate Professor of Psychology Brian Sharpless was recently nominated and selected to be one of 11 members of the Association of State Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) Examination Stakeholder Technical Advisory Group (ESTAG) for the national licensure exam in psychology (Examination for Professional Practice...
SMCM Psychology Students, Alumni and Professor Present at Eastern Psychological Association Conference Angela Draheim April 16, 2021 - 2:33 pm April 16, 2021 Students Mackenzie Brooks '22, Jacinda Thomas '22, alumni Connor McKissick '18 and Adam Kass '18, and Associate Professor of Psychology Jennifer Tickle presented virtual posters at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in early-March 2021. Thomas, McKissick, Kass, and Tickle presented "Virtual Reality Effects...
Top