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November 26, 2022

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Education Ed Notes

Chesapeake Forum Announces Two New Board Members

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Chesapeake Forum is delighted to announce the addition of Sara Robins and Bruce Purdy to the Chesapeake Forum Board of Directors. The two join a dynamic board dedicated to helping guide Chesapeake Forum’s future, according to Board President Lynn Randle.

“Both bring exceptional talents to our Board and we can’t be happier to include them as Chesapeake Forum continues its growth in the community,” says Randle.

Bruce Purdy

Purdy has more than 45 years of international socio-economic development experience working directly with Ministers, Mayors, City Councils, and public policy officials to conduct legislative and local government reform initiatives primarily in the Middle East and Eastern and Central Europe.  Post graduate work was in strategic planning and organizational management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

He brings a life-long passion for learning and education to the Board along with creativity, adaptability, visionary leadership and a whole lot of perseverance.

“Quite simply, I am in complete alignment with the mission of Chesapeake Forum,” says Purdy.  “Talbot County is my home and being on this Board allows me to enhance the quality of life of my fellow citizens, positively affect change and support an organization that I am truly passionate about. It also affords me the opportunity to stretch my intellectual muscle. On a more personal note, I also hope to meet some interesting people (of which there’s no shortage in Talbot County!) who will add to my quality of life here on the Eastern Shore.”

Sara Robins

Robins is a communications professional with a lengthy career in print and broadcast journalism before turning to the then-new field of interactive development and digital marketing. After working for a variety of news organizations including CBS, ABC, the New York Times and Newsday, she joined the leadership team of one of the first digital agencies in the country, helping to pioneer the use of online marketing and communications strategies for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits and startups.

Her passion for education started with her uncle who developed educational programs in Africa.  She has a Master’s degree in International Development and recently served as the Communications Director for a non-profit that provides scholarships and training for very bright, indigent students in Kenya.

She looks forward to finding creative ways to spread the news about Chesapeake Forum. “I’m excited to join this dynamic board to find ways to expand the reach and impact of Chesapeake Forum,” Robins says.  “It’s an extraordinary resource and offers so much to enhance life for Eastern Shore residents.”

Board President Lynn Randle says the two new board members bring a new perspective that will help widen Chesapeake Forum’s reach and sphere of influence on the Eastern Shore.

“We are beyond enthusiastic for the energy, enthusiasm and talents they bring to us,” she said.  “We feel lucky to welcome them on our mission of building lifelong learning on the Eastern Shore!”

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore.  If you would like to receive the Chesapeake Forum’s monthly newsletter, please email to info@chesapeakeforum.org with your name and preferred email.

Maryland’s $3.8 billion Education Blueprint Plan Embraces Community Schools

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Every morning before school Wolfe Street Academy in Baltimore opens for breakfast. Today sausage sandwiches, bananas, juice and milk are on the menu for the students, all of whom are eligible for two free meals a day. Many come with their parents, and sit together for announcements, which Principal Mark Gaither and ESOL family liaison Sylvia Chicas deliver bilingually, since Latinos make up over 80% of the student body.

On this day Gaither applauds regular attendance, rewards good behavior with gift cards, and singles out students for their achievements. He says it’s not unusual for parents to stick around.

“We get tons of parents, and one will [announce], ‘We have an ESOL meeting afterwards,’ and we’ll have 60 parents who stay,” Gaither said. “Our families are wonderful. They reach out.  We show up for each other for the thing that we are calling the school year and life, and we do it together. We work the problem, come up with the next best plan and keep going.”

Ingredients for scholastic success

What Gaither is running is a community school. It’s at the core of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Act, the multi-billion-dollar public education reform plan, enacted in 2021. The new law prioritizes pockets of poverty, giving schools services they need to thrive. Gaither says academic success depends on considering the whole family and problems like nutrition, health, and unemployment, food and housing insecurity.

“All we are doing is giving them the things that you expect for all kids,” he said. “You wouldn’t let your kid take a high stakes test without eating, would you?” At Wolfe kids get free eyeglasses, join after school activities that include art, creative writing, theater, music, plus opportunities to play soccer, baseball and chess.

When Gaither came to Wolfe in 2005, the school ranked 77th among the city’s 90 elementary schools. Leveraging public funds and community support, Wolfe became a community school the next year. He says the move has transformed student and family life, noting that by 2014 Wolfe ranked second academically, behind the most affluent school in the city.  “We have maintained that trajectory,” he said.  “The Maryland Report Card, released by the Maryland Department of Education, puts Wolfe above 70% of the public schools in the state.”

The school has been so successful that students beyond Wolfe’s neighborhood compete in a lottery to enroll there.

The new Blueprint law with its complex funding formula based on a specific concentration of poverty level provides each school with a community school coordinator and a healthcare practitioner. “By virtue of being a public school in Baltimore City, we are part of the Blueprint and [did] not need to apply,” Gaither said. “All of our after school programming is separate from this funding, and [comes from] individual grants.”

Building community partnerships

Aneuri Castro is the community school coordinator.  His job is to keep an eye on what the students and families need and seeks to provide it.

As a first generation Dominican-American, with a degree in social work, he is especially equipped to help Wolfe succeed by getting to know its neighbors. “The best way is the good old-fashioned way, which is setting up a meeting, picking up a phone, calling people, letting people know who we are, what we do and what we’re looking into getting into,” he said, adding that at the end of baseball season, he arranged for 40 Orioles tickets for kids and families.

He’s raised funds to help families pay rent and utilities, and cooperates with the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, where he recently recruited 15 graduate students to help in the after school programs. Among their other partners are the Baltimore Curriculum Project, the Upper Fells Point Improvement Association, Vision for Baltimore, and the Baltimore Family Alliance.

These efforts give students a sense of stability, which is what we hear from students in Jen Boebinger’s 5th grade class, many of whom have been at Wolfe since pre-K. Ten-year old Sophia says, “My parents immigrated from Brazil, and we didn’t have a lot of money. And, now we’re doing a lot better because of Wolfe Street.” She makes friends easily among different cultures.  “There’s lots of people from lots of different places. We have people from El Salvador, from Mexico and all places around the world,” she said. Tamera, age 11, a minority African American in the largely Latino school, nods her head in agreement. “It’s fun and easy to learn a new language in this school,” she said.

Boebinger is proud of her students. “I hope that we can build confidence in all of the different things that we do,” she said. “I want them to leave Wolfe feeling really great about themselves. I hope we can continue doing this work, continue supporting our families in the way that we do and continue learning together.”

Clopper Mill Elementary, school re-set

Wolfe Street Academy is a model for the 358 community schools across Maryland, including 58 added in the 2022-3 school year with the implementation of the Blueprint law. It’s year one for Clopper Mill Elementary in Germantown, which is among 26 community schools in Montgomery County. The school is largely Hispanic and African American. Most students qualify for free and reduced lunches.

On a recent day, Principal Lawrence Chep was talking with several dozen parents at an early morning coffee, the first of regularly scheduled monthly meetings to garner interest and concerns. “When you have parents who are really invested in the school, and have a positive view of our school and the connection we have with them, then the children see that and they get more excited about school and learning,” he said.

On that same morning, the school’s community liaison, Jennifer DeCastro, opened the free-food pantry, which operates in a portable classroom twice a week with stocks of staples like fresh milk and yogurt, rice, and canned vegetables and fruit. She also takes her cues from the parents, and what’s happening, like getting quality jump ropes, and making sure the afterschool sports clubs have scrimmage vests. “It takes a team to do this,” she said. “We work closely with the Parent Community Coordinator, counselors, the PTA and leaders among our school families.”

DeCastro counts among her partners Capital Area Food Bank, MD Diaper Bank, Montgomery Soccerplex, Leveling the Playfield, and Master Method Academy and continues the search for more resources.

Parents engaged, volunteer

This year Yesika Morales’ 4-year-old is in pre-K.  As she gathers food from the pantry, she says she feels the school is focused on children and families. “Parents are motivated to take charge, to be present and support the school,” she said.

These parents include Karina Artiga-Morales, a daycare provider, who loaded two toddlers in a red wagon to be here. “I bring my [older] daughter on Fridays too, and we help so that my kids can grow up by giving back to the community, not just [taking],” she said.  Standing nearby, volunteer Kathy Holloway, whose daughter is in the fourth grade after two years of virtual school, sums up their engagement, “It takes a community to raise a child,” she said. “I think it’s going to be great!”

Cost, wellness benefits

Their dreams are encapsuled in the Blueprint Act, which comes with a big price tag, increasing educational funding to $3.8-billion a year by 2030. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), a former teacher who helped craft the new law, told Maryland Matters that community schools offer a beacon for the future.

“In the 21st century, it’s not just about math and science scores, although those matter, as much as anything. It’s also about kind of social, emotional wellness and having the supports a child needs to be successful,” he said.  “We have to be able to show and measure [that success] over time so that we have the data to say, this is a real investment to the Maryland taxpayer. This is why it matters.”

Some of that data is already in, with more on the way.

According to a 2019 study by the Albuquerque, N.M., Community Schools, the return on investment is $7.11 in net benefits for every $1 spent on a community school coordinator.

“In January, we will release a “Costing Out Community Schools” — a tool that will help district leaders and community groups determine the costs of implementing community schools based on their local needs. This tool will be accompanied by a user guide that can help inform planning and implementation,” said Michael Griffith, a senior researcher and policy analyst at the Learning Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

Regarding outcomes, Education Research Consortium RAND research published in 2020, shows that New York City community schools have a positive impact on student attendance, on-time grade progression, math achievement, and sense of connectedness to adults and peers, among other factors when compared to schools with similar demographics. Similar results have been reported by the Baltimore Education Research Consortium.

By Rosanne Skirble

Benedictine is Recipient of Phillips Charitable Foundation Grant

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Benedictine was the recipient of a Phillips Charitable Foundation Grant in the amount of $48,558that was utilized to upgrade adult group homes located in Annapolis and Denton, Maryland. Phillips Charitable Foundation mission is to support organizations that provide necessary change in the lives of vulnerable populations by solving problems and removing obstacles that lead to lasting solutions. This is a perfect match to Benedictine’s belief that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can be productive and active members of their communities.

The renovations improved living conditions and make the homes safer for the men and women who live there.

“Through our grant-giving we aim to bring dignified living to the people we serve,” stated Jennifer Good, Vice President, Phillips Charitable Foundation. “We saw this project as a perfect opportunity to do just that. On behalf of all of us at Phillips Charitable Foundation, it was an honor to be able to improve the living conditions for these individuals.”

Adult resident Paul is pictured with Jennifer Cook, Phillips Charitable Foundation Vice President and Claudia Cunningham, Benedictine Chief Advancement Officer, in newly renovated kitchen in a Benedictine group home in Annapolis.

The Annapolis group home, which is nearly 40 years old, serves as the permanent residence for four adult men who range in age from 46-54 that live with developmental disabilities and autism. The carpeting was replaced with vinyl flooring which will prevent potential tripping hazards – especially as the men age, simplify the daily cleaning process, and eliminate the need for frequent and costly carpet cleaning. The worn and damaged kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances and wiring were also replaced.

Paul, who has lived at the group home in Annapolis for over 25 years, shared how proud he is of the home he lives in and it makes him happy to see how nice it is now. “And it is easier to sweep the floors than vacuum!” he exclaimed. He also added that he loves to make eggs in the new kitchen.

The Phillips grant also enabled Benedictine to replace a pair of sliding doors at the home along with upgrades to a fire suppression system in an adult group home in Denton.

Benedictine manages 18 adult group homes located in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel County, servicing close to 70 adults with developmental disabilities and autism.

For more information on Benedictine’s events, services, and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham at Claudia.cunningham@benschool.orgorcall 410.634.2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian, nonprofit, comprehensive service provider helping more than 200 children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot and Anne Arundel counties. The Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester County public schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Student Success for High School Students Via Upward Bound

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Nationally, Upward Bound boasts alumni such as actress Viola Davis and broadcast journalist John Quinones among their ranks.  Leaders in business, science, entertainment, and education credit their preparation for future success to the federal program designed to help teens reach their full potential as adults.

For more than 50 years, Upward Bound has been preparing students in -need for college and success after graduation. Students in the program receive guidance and resources from 9th grade through college. Founded in 1965, it was the first federally funded program to help low-income and first-generation students succeed in higher education and attain middle class status. Locally, the program helped students through the mid-1990s.

Now Upward Bound is back on the Mid-Shore thanks to three federal grants awarded to Chesapeake College this year.

“It seems that every day I hear of someone who benefitted from an Upward Bound experience,” said Executive Director of TRiO Programs Christle Foster. “The skills attained and guidance provided through the program are proven to help students succeed in high school, through college, and on into their early careers.”

Members of the new Upward Bound team at Chesapeake College are ready to enroll high school students in the program. Pictured here, left to right, are Lori Kannegieter, Patricia Hawkins, Mark Berry, Karen Luceti and Christle Foster.

Students in the program will receive academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career exploration, cultural enrichment and stipends.

Students in Caroline, Kent and Talbot counties can now join the program this academic year. Combined, the three federal grants will allow 180 area high school students to participate in the program at Chesapeake.

Chesapeake recently named Mark Berry to be director of TRiO Upward Bound. Mr. Berry previously served as Chesapeake’s director of student engagement.

The Upward Bound application is now open online and Mr. Berry has been meeting with potential participants in area schools and in the community. Mr. Berry said students are encouraged to apply now, and plan to begin participating in the program by the beginning of Spring Semester.

“Our partners in the county high schools are as excited about the program as we are, and we’re working together to recruit students, “ Mr. Berry said.

With the proliferation of businesses designed to help high school students navigate college admissions and rising higher education costs, the barriers to college can seem impossibly high to some high school students.

First generation students – those who have parents without bachelor’s degrees – are at an even greater disadvantage. Unfamiliar with the language of higher education and inexperienced, these students are unable to turn to their families for help. The only guidance they receive is provided by school counselors, who may have hundreds of students to assist.

Upward Bound academic coordinators will help guide students through the college admissions and financial aid process with workshops and field trips. Students will also learn to recognize good opportunities and how to build professional connections.

Participation in the program can also boost a student’s high school performance.

“The program includes grade monitoring, so our academic coordinators can see how Upward Bound students are doing throughout the quarter. They can provide encouragement and guide students to available resources,” Mr. Berry said. “Those check-ins aren’t limited to academics. Our staff will communicate regularly with students to make sure they’re thriving outside of the classroom and connect them with community resources such as mental health services or local food pantries. We’re taking a holistic approach to student success.”

Also included in the program, is a six-week, intensive summer session designed to keep students on track for continued success as they transition to the next grade.  Each of the six weeks will include days with an academic focus and one day of enrichment, according to Ms. Foster. For graduating high school seniors in Upward Bound, a summer bridge program will include two Chesapeake classes for college credit.  These credits can provide a head start at Chesapeake College or be transferred to a four-year college.

To learn more about the program and apply, please visit https://www.chesapeake.edu/upwardbound

177 Gunston Students Claim High Honors & Honors for first Quarter of 22-23 Academic Year

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The Gunston School recognized 177 students for earning High Honors and Honors for the first quarter of the 2022-2023 academic year. To earn a place on the High Honors list, a student must have an academic average of 93 percent or above and effort grades of satisfactory, “S” or above. To earn Honors, a student must achieve an 88-92.99 average and effort grades of “S” or above.

High Honors Grade 12: Nicholas (Nick) Abell, Zachary (Zack) Adams, Madilyn (Maddie) Algier, Olivia Amygdalos, Kelby Booth, McKinsey Brown, Julia Buchanan, Nicasio (Nick) Ceruolo, Sadie Cloud, Thomas de los Reyes, Celine Denat, Charles Evans, Irina Ganarin, Catherine Hansen, Sarah (Eli) Ireland, Thomas (Cy) Johnston, Paget Kellogg, Katherine (Kate) Kroncke, Paige Kroncke, Garrett Lang, Jennie LaTorre, YaXin (Angelina) Lin, Julia McClary, Calla McCluskey, Ava Melvin, Zacharia (Zach) Mozher, Elizabeth (Lane) Parkhurst, Grace Anne Phillips, Nathan Porter, Damian René, Isabelle Wagner Requena, MacKenzie Smith, William Stuart, Finnegan (Finn) Theeke, Brielle Tyler, and Yining Wei.

Honors Grade 12: Katelyn (Kate) Campbell, Olivia Faff, Alanna Grace, Natalie Henry, Ian Kissel, Christopher (Bates) Nittle, Miranda Pope, Julia Reed, Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie, Liam Thomas, Aidan Trautman, Oliver White, and Jiacheng (Jason) Ye.

High Honors Grade 11: Quinn Baughman, Michael Billings, Zoe Buzzelli, Benjamin (Ben) Cook, Turner Day, Liam Dickey, Aiden Dunlap, Allie Fitzgerald, Edward (Eddie) Gillespie, Trevor Green, Colin Hallmark, Jessica Hammond, Caeden Harrison, Abigail (Abbie) Houseknecht, Samantha Jayne, Samantha (Sam) Keith, Maren Kneeland, Lucas LaFleur, Arnold (Ben) Lutz, Madison (Madi) Lutz, Caitlin Myers, Joshua Nuessle, Tilghman Overton, Matthew Periconi, Taylor Rainer, Joanna Riley, Luke Roser, Ava Runz, Jan Serraviñals, Jonah Smith, Anna Szwaja, Isabella Taylor, and Evelyn Volkmer.

Honors Grade 11: Shawn Barry, Sedona Bell, Harrison Dunstan, Eleanor (Ellie) Hassett, Sophia Kent, Rowan Larkin, Rowan Lutz, Jaden Mahaffey, Lucia Melchiorre, Josie Merton, Kate Porter, Mariner Schut, Annabelle Sinatra, Amber Tormey, Arielle Tyler, and Jackson Wood.

High Honors Grade 10: Lauren (Alix) Allison, Jack Beasley, Lily Brantner, Alex Elfenbein, Jackson Frederick, Adit Gupta, Brayden Hamm, Grace Hanlon, Trevor Janssen, Phoebe Kelly, Phil Kokoschka, Celine Kumin, V McCluskey, Isla McCollum, Justin McCubbin, Sam Mielke, Elijah Moore, Louise Mulock, Benta Owino, Elizabeth Pupke, Alivia Runz, Katherine Sadler, Grace Shepherd, Mia Walker, and Aidan Watson.

Honors Grade 10: Lea Berling, Alayna Brown, Allison Davis, Alexa Duncan, Lennox Franks, Elena Fraser, Jeffrey (Tanner) Hatch, R.P. Johnson, Nina Johnston, Brendan (Wylie) Keegan, Logan Kille, Allison (Alli) Lutz, Victoria MacGlashan, Robert (Ethan) McWilliams, Caroline Mirando, Kazys Morris, Victoria (Tori) Nessly, Ellery Philippon, Margaret Randolph, Evelyn Russ, Emma Sharp, Jackson Showalter, Zachary Steinberg, and Evan Zottarelli.

High Honors Grade 9: Kate Andrews, Ava Augustus, Soren (Arlo) Badger, Annabelle Baker, Gabriella Bonfoey, Eleonor Hubbert, Sydney Kim, Eamon Schopfer, Lia Schut, Emily Steele, Alayna Thompson, and Lucas Watkins.

Honors Grade 9: Lillian (Lily) Babylon, Aurora Baughman, Genevieve Baughman, Susannah Clark, Emery Day, Riley Faff, Gianni Figliozzi, Aiden Filer, Layla Kent, Lily May, Olivia Murray, Nevin Porter, Megan Riley, Arya Shajwani, Caroline Thomas, Luca Tyler, Lilah Wharton, and Sydney Wilson.

Trans Teens – Wye River Hosts Q & A with Disney + Star

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Wye River Upper School announces will host a virtual event with transgender Disney + Star, Sage Dolan-Sandrino, and her mother, Karen Dolan.

Registration is open to the public for the open-format conversation with Sage Dolan-Sandrino and Karen Dolan, as they discuss what it is like to be and to raise a transgender teenager in today’s age. Known most recently for starring in episode 5 of the Disney + docuseries, Growing UP, Sage shared her journey from a young girl finding the words and space to be herself to leading and creating room for others to do the same. Having transitioned at age 13, Sage quickly claimed her place in the world as a trans-Afro-Cuban public leader and activist for transgender youth. Sage ignites change through her work with the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Transgender Equality. She is the producer of National Black Justice Coalition’s most recent creative project, FLOWER, a video interview series that celebrates trans-women, made possible through the Monica Roberts Fellowship award. Sage is the Founder and Creative Director of The Team Mag, a digital zine. She also serves on the advisory board of Gucci’s CHIME FOR CHANGE and the National Black Justice Coalition’s Black Trans Advisory Board. Sage was named one of The Kennedy Center for Performing Art’s inaugural Social Practice Resident artists in 2019.

Karen Dolan is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. She appears regularly in print and radio regarding issues of domestic poverty, economic policy, and gender diversity. Karen is Sage’s mother and appears with Sage in Disney+’s docuseries Growing Up.

Head of School, Stephanie Folarin shares, “We are delighted to have Sage and Karen join us on December 1. Their expertise in this area is invaluable. We are so excited to share their knowledge and passions with our community.

About Wye River Upper School
Wye River Upper School is an independent high school serving the strengths and needs of bright students who learn
differently. Wye River is located in Centreville, MD, approximately 20 minutes east of the Bay Bridge. For more information about the school, please contact Tracie Spence at 443-262-8292 or at traciespence@wyeriverupperschool.org.

Naomi Shihab Nye to Visit The Country School

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Naomi Shihab Nye

On Thursday, November 17, 2022, The Country School will welcome Naomi Shihab Nye as a visiting poet/author.

The daughter of a Palestinian refugee, Nye spent her adolescence in both Jerusalem and San Antonio, Texas.
Nye is the Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poet Laureate and recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Ivan Sandrof Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Book Critics Circle, the Lavan Award, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Carity Randall Prize, and many more. She has received fellowships from the Lannan Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and she was a Witter Bynner Fellow. From 2010 to 2015 she served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. In 2018, she was awarded the Lon Tinkle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Texas Institute of Letters.

Nye’s multi-cultural experience has greatly influenced her work. Known for poetry that gives voice to ordinary events, people, and objects, Nye has been quoted as saying, “the primary source of poetry has always been local life, random characters met on the streets, our own ancestry sifting down to us through small essential daily tasks…Poetry calls us to pause. There is so much we overlook, while the abundance around us continues to shimmer, on its own.”

A group of Country School students read Nye’s book The Turtle of Oman this past summer and 5th and 6th grade students read her narrative prose poem Gate A-4 this fall. Next Thursday, she will be working with 4th-6th grade students, who are all working on their personal narrative writing.

Country School Interim Head Jean Waller Brune has known Nye for many years and looks forward to her sharing her many gifts with our students and staff. “Naomi speaks to our shared humanity through metaphor and everyday experiences that are familiar and resonate within,” says Brune. “She draws us in through her vivid imagery, love of life, and joyful spirit.”

Choptank Health Launches Scholarship Program

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Choptank Community Health System recently announced a new scholarship program for the nonprofit’s staff and new hires completing Chesapeake College’s Dental Assistant (DA) and Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification programs.

The program is intended to supplement the recruiting and retention efforts of Choptank Health’s offices in Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, Federalsburg, Goldsboro, and St. Michaels. Choptank Community Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and one of 17 community-based health centers in Maryland serving more than 377,000 individuals, including those without insurance or the ability to pay.

An application for the scholarship must be submitted and approved by Choptank Health before receiving funding, along with a commitment to work for Choptank Health. The funding can be used to cover course fees and tuition, textbooks, and licensure costs for Choptank Health’s current and future DA and CMA staff.

“We want to especially encourage high school students to consider applying for this scholarship,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “Students can get a head start enrolling at Chesapeake College while still in high school for rewarding careers as dental or medical assistants.”

Choptank Health will pay tuition and fees directly to Chesapeake College for each scholarship recipient. Books and educational materials will be reimbursed to the employee upon submitting an expense report with the receipt. Choptank Health will additionally reimburse employees or new hires for an exam fee upon certification of passing the exam.

Once the licensing exam is successfully completed, new hires and current staff approved to participate in the program will be required to agree to a two-year employment commitment with Choptank Health for DA positions or a three-year commitment for CMA positions.

“Choptank Health offers a competitive benefits package for all full-time employees as well,” said Rich. “Our full-time employees enjoy paid time off, and we offer health and life insurance, retirement investment packages, and more.”

Individuals interested in applying for the program can reach out to Choptank Health Human Resources Director Melissa Book at mbook@choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Education Foundation Celebrates TCPS Distinguished Alumni

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The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation has announced the 2022 “Mission Possible –Celebrating TCPS Alumni and Supporting Teachers,” to be held on Friday, November 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center. Mrs. Eleanor “Tot” O’Mara, Easton High Class of 1967 and James Redman, TCPS Fine Arts Supervisor will serve as Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. The purpose of the event is to recognize Distinguished Alumni, celebrate Talbot County Public Education, and raise funds, awareness, and support for the Education Foundation.

The event will include a cocktail reception catered by Jordan Lloyd of Hambleton House, LLC, and a performance by the Easton High School Marching Band, directed by Mr. E.J. Oesterle.  Information will be presented about teacher grant proposals, so that guests see first-hand examples of the initiatives that the foundation raises funds to support.  Tickets to attend the event are $75 per person, and may be purchased on-line at https://m-scf.networkforgood.com/events/48153-mission-possible-2022, by visiting the Education Foundation website, https://www.tcpsef.org/ or by calling Debbie Gardner at (410)822-0330, ext. 102. There are also a variety of sponsorship opportunities available.

“We are looking forward to celebrating our Distinguished Alumni with an in person event, for the first time since 2019,” said Pamela Clay, event co-chair and member of the St. Michaels High class of 1973. “They are all outstanding members of our community who are very deserving of this recognition,” added Ms. Juanita Hopkins, Easton High class of 1971, who is also co-chairing the event. The TCPS Distinguished Alumni are selected for their outstanding professional accomplishments, their commitment to giving back to their communities, and their belief in and support of public education.

Mark A. Higginbottom, D.M.D., Easton High School class of 1966

After graduating from Easton High as Salutatorian in 1966, Dr. Higginbottom earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with a Minor in Classical Organ from Syracuse University in 1970, where he was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  He graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1974, and earned a Certificate in Orthodontics from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1976, having been recognized as the Most Highly Achieved Student in his class.  He participated in Cleft Palate Programs at Kiernans Institute through the University of Maryland Dental School Orthodontics Program, and the Externship Program for Dental Students through the University of Pennsylvania. He opened Higginbottom Orthodontics in 1976, and the practice has grown from one assistant/front desk employee to currently having three doctors, including his sons Kyle and Erik, and 10 employees.

Dr. Higginbottom is a member of the Eastern Shore Dental Society, Easton Dental Educators, Maryland State Dental Society, American Association of Orthodontists, Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists, and Maryland State Society of Orthodontists.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA, Abendmusikwith Dr. William Wharton, the American Guild of Organists, Easton Choral Arts, and the Antique Automobile Club of America. He has been an organist at All Faith Chapel in Tunis Mills and the United Methodist Church in Easton, and he has provided piano or organ accompaniment for many local students

Higginbottom Orthodontics was voted by the Dental Community Practitioners as the Best Orthodontic Practice on the Eastern Shore for numerous years, and was voted the 2021 Best of the Best Orthodontist by the Star Democrat.  The practice has provided internship opportunities for Easton High students.  Dr. Higginbottom has also been an  Instructor at Chesapeake College for the Dental Assisting Curriculum and was an Associate Professor of Orthodontics to Dental Students and Post-Graduate Students at the UMD School of Dentistry following completion of his studies.

Higginbottom Orthodontics adopts many classrooms in several TCPS school buildings to aid in the purchase of classroom materials. They partner with White Marsh Elementary and Chapel District Elementary for various events, especially during the holidays, to ensure that families have food and ways to celebrate the holidays. Higginbottom Orthodontics was designated Community Partner of the Year by the Chapel District Elementary in 2022.

Mrs. Bertha C. Wilson, Robert Russa Moton High School Class of 1951

Mrs. Bertha Brown Wilson is a 1951 graduate of Robert Russa Moton High School, the first class in Talbot County to graduate from the 12th grade.  The salutatorian of her class, Mrs. Wilson continued her education at the Bowie State Teachers’ College (now Bowie State University), earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1955. She obtained her Advanced Professional Certificate in Secondary Social Studies by pursuing graduate studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, Towson University and Morgan State University.

Mrs. Wilson began her teaching career in 1955 at the Robert Russa Moton High School in Westminster, Maryland with Carroll County Public Schools.  She joined Talbot County Public Schools 1959, where she taught for 26 years at the Robert Russa Moton Jr. Sr. High School and Easton Middle School, before retiring in 1985 after 30 years of service.  After retirement, she worked as a Project Independence Coordinator for Caroline County Department of Social Services and Intermittent Claim Specialist for the Maryland Department of Economic Development& Employment.

Mrs. Wilson is a member of Union United Methodist Church, St. Michaels, where she has served as a Liturgist and Lay Servant.  She has also been a member of the Auxiliary at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton, a member of the Board of Governors for the Auxiliary at the Breast Center, and volunteered at the Shore Regional Breast Center in Easton.  She has been Chairperson of the Upper Shore Aging Advisory Council, a member of the Bowie State University Alumni Association, a member and previous co-chairperson for the Education Committee for the Talbot County NAACP, Member and Past Worthy Matron of Oziel Chapter No. 23, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter.  She has also been member and Past President of Cambridge Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Member of the Board of Directors for the Talbot County Hospice Foundation, Member of the Talbot County Retired School Personnel Association where she served as a Legislative Chair, a member of the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, and a member of the Steering Committee for the Comprehensive Planning Committee for Talbot County.

Mrs. Wilson has received many awards including: Certificate of Outstanding Achievement from the Panhellenic Council of the Eastern Shore (1998); Umoja Award from the Kwanzaa Foundation (1999); Award of Distinction upon her induction to the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (2002); Car-Ken-Tal-Que-Dor Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. Award of Distinction History Award; Talbot County NAACP Harriet Tubman Award (2003); The Maryland You Are Beautiful Award (2006); Certificate of Appreciation – Senior Celebration of Life – Outstanding Contribution to the Community – Talbot County Council (2007).

Jeffrey H. Etherton, M.D., St. Michaels High School Class of 1977

Dr. Etherton currently serves as Medical Director, Interventional Cardiology at University Of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton.  He graduated summa cum laude from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, with degrees in biology and English, and obtained his medical degree from University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore in 1985.

Dr. Etherton completed his internship and residency at the University of Florida, Department of Medicine, in Gainesville. He completed his cardiology fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of Maryland, Department of Medicine, in Baltimore. He has also held several teaching positions at University of Maryland School of Medicine and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, and has additional training in nuclear medicine.  He was a molecular biologist at the National Institutes of Health and Ft. Detrick Military Biological Research Center, studying virus deactivation, working with a Nobel Prize winning research team.

Prior to coming back home to Talbot County, he joined Peninsula Regional Medical Center, in Salisbury, MD in 1991. There he started their device based cardiac interventional program, electrophysiology program, nuclear cardiology program and clinical cardiology research program, serving the whole Delmarva Peninsula, until 2016.

Dr. Etherton is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine; the American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine; and the American Board of Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology. He maintains professional memberships with the American College of Physicians, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, the Maryland Medical and Chirurgical Association, and is a Fellow with the American College of Cardiology. He is a United States veteran, having served with the United States Navy Reserve.

Dr. Etherton fills a critical role at all levels of service and professionalism, saving lives and building relationships within our community.  He teaches and mentors young professionals, and has developed and implemented systems and cardiac health resources for our region.  This includes the establishment of a state-of-the-heart Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in Easton in 2017, which provides top notch care that patients previously experiencing a life threatening heart attack had to travel elsewhere to receive. In addition, he is a cardiology educator for Maryland Regional IV Emergency Medical Services, training Mid-Shore EMTs and paramedics.

Dr. Etherton is a long time sponsor of YoungLife, has co-chaired the Harold Baines Charity Golf Tournament in support of the Bay Hundred Youth Task Force Scholarship Fund, and has served the board of the YMCA.

The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation was established in 2016 in partnership with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.  Its mission is to engage the community in supporting excellence in public education and provide resources to enhance the teaching and learning experience for all. To date the foundation has funded$140,000 in grants to TCPS teachers.To learn more about supporting the TCPS Education Foundation, visit https://www.tcpsef.org/ or contact Debbie Gardner, Communications Officer, at 410-822-0330 ext. 102 or by email at dgardner@talbotschools.org.

The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels Seeks Scholarship Applicants

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The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels has awarded scholarships to St. Michaels High School seniors for more than 40 years and this year will award a total of $10,000 to one or more students graduating from St. Michaels High School in 2023.

The successful candidate or candidates will exhibit outstanding academic performance, be active in their school and community, and be in need of financial assistance.

In addition to information regarding academic performance and volunteer activities, students are required to submit an application and a personal essay. Finalists will be invited to interview with the Scholarship Committee in early spring. The recipient(s) will be announced at the Senior Awards Assembly, and will be required to attend the Woman’s Club of St. Michaels Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, June 7, 2021.

The application and information is available from Mr. JR Burkhardt in the SMHS Guidance Department.  The information is also available online through the SMHS website. The deadline for submitting an application is Monday, March 6, 2023.