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Virtual Tool-Sharpening Demo Scheduled for July 11

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., is hosting a virtual tool-sharpening workshop on Saturday, July 11, from 10–11:30am.

If taken care of properly, your edge tools can last generations. By keeping them well-honed, you will find they can cut like new every time. The workshop will cover the proper preparation, sharpening, and honing of hand plane irons and chisels. Participants will also learn the basic techniques to put a mirror finish on an aging tool collection.

The cost for the workshop is $10, with registration needed at cbmm.org/toolsharpening. A 20% discount (of $2) is available for CBMM members, who play a critical role in supporting CBMM’s rich legacy of educational programs, fascinating and ever-changing exhibitions, and maintenance of the largest collection of Chesapeake watercraft in the world, including access to exclusive discounts, perks, and programming. To learn more about becoming a CBMM member, visit cbmm.org/membership.

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Education Foundation Launches “Digital Divide Campaign”

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The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation is seeking financial contributions to help close the “Digital Divide” that has impacted student access to learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their goal is to raise $60,000 through the “Digital Divide Campaign.”

Established in 2016, the Education Foundation’s mission is “to engage the community in supporting excellence in public education and provide resources to enhance the teaching and learning experience for ALL.”  When schools closed due to COVID-19, school districts were directed to provide “Continuity of Learning” using digital devices and communications. While virtual learning is not new to TCPS, the need to quickly transition ALL students and staff exclusively to this model presented significant challenges, and put some students at greater risk of being unable to succeed.

“As an educator in the district, I have experienced this technological divide impacting my partnership with families for some time,” explains Lindsey Higginbottom, Assistant Principal, Easton Elementary School and member of the Education Foundation Board.  “Having internet access is something many of us take for granted.  Not having the internet obviously makes learning from home during this time a challenge, but it has also been a challenge for our families to simply connect.”

“Families connected have been fortunate to access additional online resources for their child to practice at home,” Mrs. Higginbottom added.“A student in my class who was absent due to illness could easily hop on one of our frequently used platforms to keep up with their schooling before returning.  Families have had direct access through web pages and email to connect with teachers beyond the school day and even monitor their child’s grades long before the quarterly report card was sent home.”

TCPS provides devices for every student in grades K-12.  All students in grades 6-12 took their district-issued laptops home with them when schools closed on March 13, and iPads were distributed to students in grades K-5 the following week. Students who did not have reliable internet access received packets of school work to complete each week through the end of the school year. The “Digital Divide” describes the lack of educational equity for students who could not access on-line teaching platforms or engage with their teachers virtually.  As a result, the educational experience of these students suffered.

Curtis Hulliger, Technician and Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent were part of the team distributing iPads to TCPS students in grades K-5 the week after schools closed on March 13.

The challenge is two-fold:

• With 49% of TCPS students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals, many families are unable to afford internet service.
• Also, internet service is either unreliable or unavailable in some parts of Talbot County where students and staff live.

Talbot Family Network facilitated a grant that enabled TCPS to purchase 100 “hot spots” to distribute to students and staff and provide internet access for three months.  However funding is not readily available in the approved FY2020-2021 budget to cover the ongoing cost for connection, and the need exceeds the number of hot spots available.

TCPS has determined that there are at least 300 households in which students’ families are unable to afford or obtain reliable internet service.  The school district is collaborating with Easton Utilities to develop discounted programs for families in their service territory, and hopes to form similar partnerships with internet providers who service the outlying areas in the county.  As the estimated cost for the discounted programs is $200 per family per year, the Education Foundation set a $60,000 goal for the campaign ($200 x 300 families).

“As we develop various scenarios for the start of school for the 2020-2021 school year, students will continue to need technology and internet access.  We cannot allow the digital divide to widen the achievement gap for our students,” explained Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent of Schools.  “The Digital Divide Campaign will help provide internet access for families in need and help us level the playing field with equitable access to a quality education.”

“As one of the teacher representatives on the advisory board, I have seen how the technology inequities like access to the internet have truly impeded student learning and progress particularly during the school closure,” said Jeremy Hillyard, Easton High Spanish Teacher and Foundation Board member. “While some students were receiving paper copies of work during the closure, this was extremely expensive and was a weekly recurring cost for the school system.”

“Optimistically, the school closure this spring has made us aware of technology inequities such as these,” Mr. Hillyard added.“If we continue this way in the new school year the problem will only exacerbate itself. Let us use this time, our power, and our financial resources to make this change for the TCPS students. They, their education, and their futures deserve it.”

Connection will provide students equitable access to learning in these unforeseen times. It will also provide opportunities to enrich, explore, research, connect, and monitor, all of which are important contributions to a partnership in building a child’s success.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the TCPS Education Foundation Digital Divide Campaign, go to the Education Foundation website: tcpsedfoundation.org or contact Debbie Gardner, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs at 410-822-0330, ext. 102.

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Minding a Big Gap: Digital Divide Leaving Students Behind by Al Hammond

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The Covid-19 pandemic has made profound changes in how we live. Many adults have had to adjust to working from home. But for school-age children, the change in their lives since schools closed this spring has been even greater. How are they coping with learning from home? The experience of two Eastern Shore counties—Talbot and Kent—suggests that distance learning can work, but that it doesn’t work for some children or even some teachers. The problems include:

The digital divide. Talbot and Kent are fortunate, because in both counties every schoolchild had already been issued a digital device (tablet, chromebook, macbook, depending on age). In both counties the majority of families with school-age children also have internet access at home—even if kids sometimes have to share it with parents working from home.

Interview with Kelly Griffith, Superintendent Talbot County Public Schools

But some children—as many as 15 percent—have no access at home, either because they live in remote locations or because their families can’t afford it. (In both counties, about 50 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.) Others have some access, maybe over a mobile phone, but not enough to stream a live session with a teacher or even to download a big homework file. So for these children, access means traveling to a WiFi hotspot, assuming that the family has a car and a parent at home who can drive them there and wait while the student goes online. Both counties have scrambled to provide more hotspots, working with county IT departments and commercial service providers; and both counties now have WiFi on their school buses, so that they serve as a kind of mobile hotspot. Talbot has also been mailing weekly packets of schoolwork to students who can’t get them any other way.

It’s not just students who lack access—so do some teachers is both counties. It’s a measure of their dedication that those teachers have been driving to school to deliver lessons from an empty classroom or even, in some cases, teaching from their car while parked at a WiFi hotspot.

Teachers are essential. As Bill Poore, Kent County Public School’s IT director says, “Zoom doesn’t replace a teacher’s hands-on help” with reading, or a stubborn arithmetic problem. And while some parents feel comfortable providing that kind of help at home, others do not—especially if it’s been a long time since they confronted an algebra problem or are simply not familiar with the devices and software tools that enable distance learning.

The schools are attempting to help: Kent County has adopted an on-line learning management system that simplifies things for kids or parents, and they have bought all-new devices for every student for the coming year. Talbot focused this past spring on basic topics that could be most easily grasped by a student or a parent without a teacher’s real-time presence (so-called “asynchronous learning”) and is working to have students catchup and finish any incompletes with week-long “boot camps” over the summer. But as Talbot County Public School’s Superintendent Kelly Griffith explains, “synchronous learning is important, because it increases student involvement.”

No one knows yet whether schools will be able to reopen in September, and even if they do, whether parents will feel comfortable sending their children while the pandemic is still active. So Griffith’s goal is to get everyone connected—to close the digital divide, one way or another—and she is seeking state permission for virtual programming. That might mean scheduled sessions with both teacher and students online together: English composition at 9, arithmetic at 10, science at 11.

Making rural broadband—and more effective learning—a policy priority. Last week, governor Larry Hogan announced a $45 million program to address the education digital divide. It includes a plan to build out wireless educational networks in western and southern parts of the state and on the Eastern Shore, using wireless frequencies reserved for educational use or other available frequencies. Hogan’s plan also includes money for devices and software tools, and for innovation grants to help public schools test new online educational strategies. It’s not likely that these new networks will be in place in time to help the coming school year, but it’s nonetheless a worthwhile effort that will eventually help to close the digital divide in rural Maryland.

The broader challenge, however, is to rethink education strategies. No matter how good the technology is, teachers will still need to play a central role. But why not design the educational process so that it happens seamlessly at school and at home? Why not use virtual reality tools (including virtual field trips) and hands-on interactive tools (such as 3D printers) to enhance student engagement—techniques now being rapidly adopted for industrial training? Why not use artificial intelligence tools to monitor student learning in real time and adjust the process individually to how each student learns best? It’s pertinent that in international comparisons, U.S. school children rank behind those of 12 other countries in reading and no better than 30th place in mathematics—and those dismal rankings haven’t changed in recent decades. Moreover the labor market is changing much faster than school curriculums—we’re going to need more software engineers and data managers and fewer truck drivers or assembly line workers.

Maybe the disruption of the schools by the pandemic—and the renewed attention to enabling every student to learn—will turn out to be the catalyst we need to reinvent education too.

Al Hammond was trained as a scientist (Stanford, Harvard) but became a distinguished science journalist, reporting for Science (a leading scientific journal) and many other technical and popular magazines and on a daily radio program for CBS. He subsequently founded and served as editor-in-chief for 4 national science-related publications as well as editor-in-chief for the United Nation’s bi-annual environmental report. More recently, he has written, edited, or contributed to many national assessments of scientific research for federal science agencies. Dr. Hammond makes his home in Chestertown on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Dave Wheelan contributed to this article

Bridget Harper Appointed Assistant Principal at Easton High School

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Mrs. Bridget Harper

Mrs. Bridget Harper will join the Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS) Leadership Team as Assistant Principal at Easton High School for the 2020-2021 school year.

Mrs. Harper holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Master of Education: Reading Specialist, and an Educational Leadership Certificate from Salisbury University.  She is certified in Elementary 1-6, Reading Specialist, and Administration I.

Since 2014, Mrs. Harper has served as Math Coach and Specialist for Easton Elementary School.  Her prior experience includes teaching grades 1, 2 and 5 at Easton Elementary School, as well as grades 1, 2 and 4 at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Dorchester County.  She has coordinated and lead professional development for fellow staff on topics such as equity, benchmarks and student learning objectives, and new curriculum.  She has also chaired school improvement teams, mentored student teachers and new teachers, and served on numerous committees within TCPS.

“Mrs. Harper’s record of leadership exemplifies her commitment to equity initiatives, staff accountability and student learning outcomes. She will be an asset to the Administrative Team at Easton High as we proceed with our Recovery Plan for the 2020-2021 school year,” said Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent.

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Joyce Cummings Hogan Memorial Scholarship Awarded

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The Friends of St. John’s Chapel, have created a new scholarship in honor of Joyce Cummings Hogan. A brilliant scholar, Dr. Joyce Cummings Hogan grew up on the Eastern Shore with roots in the Bay Hundred Area. Together with her husband, Dr. Robert Hogan, they produced the world’s most valid and predictive personality assessments used the world over.

Sincere Taylor, of McDaniel, MD is the first recipient of the Joyce Hogan Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $3,000. An outstanding graduate of the St. Michaels High School Class of 2020, she will be attending Stevenson University in the Fall. Her qualifications in and out of the classroom show a spirit of excellence that Dr. Joyce would be proud of. The Trustees of St. John’s Chapel wish her all the best as she pursues her academic career.

Built in 1891 by a group of Trustees in the nearby Villages of Fairbank and Barneck, St. John’s Chapel has roots extending back over 125 years. Friends of St. John’s Chapel, a non-profit organization, was formed to maintain and preserve the historic Chapel, grounds and cemetery. Today, the church is once again active and in addition to non denominational Sunday morning services on the first and third Sundays, hosts a traditional Homecoming, Christmas Eve, and Easter Sunrise service.

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Gunston’s 109th Commencement Honors the Class of 2020

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The Gunston School honored its class of 2020 with a week-long celebration. It began with seniors and their families arriving individually to campus to partake in the annual tradition of laying a brick engraved with their name and graduation year on the pathway leading up to Gunston’s original building, called Middleton House, followed by a diploma parade, and concluding with a virtual commencement ceremony featuring an Emmy-award winning alumna.

“I want to thank our teachers and faculty for putting together a week of celebration. We didn’t have a traditional end to our senior year but this week was such a memorable experience. I really enjoyed the diploma parade because it was a chance for the entire senior class to be together one last time,” says Student Government President Mason Rudolfs.

Senior Class President Isabella Santoboni announced the senior class gift to the World Health Organization. Photo by Torrey Pocock, Riggo Pro Productions.

On Friday, June 5, the virtual Green & White Awards ceremony announced 26 different awards for students and various recognitions from the greater community, as well as the much-anticipated announcement of the Green & White Cup. Twice each year, Gunston declares a “Green & White field day” as students, faculty and staff divide into two teams and compete in activities that range from canoe races to math competitions, creative writing challenges, and more. The team accumulating the most points from both days wins the Green & White Cup. This spring, the second field day was cancelled due to the pandemic, so students and faculty were able to accumulate points by doing various social media challenges, volunteering, and completing assignments. Click here to see a full list of awards and recipients.

Senior Class President Isabella Santoboni announced the senior class gift to the World Health Organization’s COVID Solidarity Response Fund. “Our donation is a way of giving the class of 2020 a voice: in a situation in which we feel so powerless, this donation is a way for us to be a part of the solution.” In addition, the 2019-2020 school year marked several milestones for faculty, including 35 years of service for Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis, and ten years of service for Head of School John Lewis.

Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis celebrated 35 years of service at the Gunston School. Photo by Torrey Pocock, Riggo Pro Productions.

Later in the day on Friday, a procession of vehicles with seniors and their families made its way down the circular drive on Gunston’s campus for a Diploma Parade, waving to faculty and staff lining the road before receiving their diplomas from Lewis. The rest of the Gunston Community was invited to watch the event live via Gunston’s  YouTube Channel and interviews by Bruce Grove of Queen Anne’s County Television (QACTV).

“For the class of 2020, the Coronavirus stole their traditional graduation ceremony. However, Gunston did an incredible job of showing their support for the students and their families,” says parent Karen Talbott. “Thank you for what was undoubtedly lots of hard work and countless meetings. This was a graduation experience that we will never forget. Every detail was so well planned, from the pictures and videos that we were able to share with family and friends, to the thoughtfulness of the parting gifts, awards, and diploma parade! We are so proud and honored to be a part of the Gunston community.”

Head of School John Lewis celebrated 10 years of service this year as he navigated the Gunston Community through the COVID pandemic. Photo by Mike Stog.

In keeping with tradition, Saturday’s virtual commencement began with Bagpiper Robert Wallace and was followed by several speakers. Highlights include remarks from Senior Class President Isabella Santoboni, Chair of the Board of Gunston’s Trustees Jim Wright, and Middleton Award (Valedictorian) winner William Newberg.

“Will Newberg has been the kind of citizen and human being who has gained the admiration and respect of every member of his class; someone who not only always shows up to work hard, but also wants to support the hard work of others,” says Lewis. “The Middleton Award is an academic award, but Will embodies all of those other qualities in our Responsibilities of the Community—respect, camaraderie, and honesty—that carried him far at Gunston, and will carry him even farther in life.”

Newberg began his speech thanking the entire staff and faculty of Gunston, as well as all of the Gunston parents for their support over the last four years. Newberg reflected on what he began to miss the most during quarantine. “I remember when I first learned that we weren’t going back to campus this semester. My mind went immediately to the big events left in the year—Green and White Day, prom, junior/senior day—it seemed obvious to mourn the big events before all else. But eventually, as daily life in quarantine began to sink in, I realized I wasn’t exactly right and I began to miss all the little things about Gunston.” Newberg described the little things as sitting with his friends in the Atrium and walking through campus on a beautiful spring day on his way to class.

Gunston’s faculty and staff lined Gunston Road. Pictured (l-r) are Jess Newell, Moe Weimer, Tammy Boone, Eliot Bamford, Kellee Webb, Owain Heyden, Erin Ferguson, Sarah Lipchock, Jessica Coner, David Miller, and Anastasiia du Hoffmann. Photo by Shea Springer.

“Not only had I not recognized the small experiences throughout the day that made life better, but I wasn’t taking full advantage of them either. […] I can’t tell you how many times I walked to my classes and didn’t notice how beautiful campus was because I was stressed about something that, in hindsight, wasn’t important.  As both a graduate and having lost this last quarter to the Coronavirus, I can say that all of these little moments matter. Take advantage of them while you have the chance.”

Gunston alumna Rita Baghdadi, class of 2003, gave this year’s commencement address. Baghdadi graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Film from Columbia College Chicago before starting her career in international film sales in Los Angeles. In addition to running her own company, Baghdadi is a member of Free The Bid, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Film Fatales and the ICFC : International Collective of Female Cinematographers. When she’s not in the field, Baghdadi is dedicated to empowering girls and women through film training. She is an Advisor for the Sundance Co//ab Documentary Film Course, co-founder and organizer of the group Women in Documentary Filmmaking and an active mentor with GlobalGirl Media. Recently, Rita was hired to produce and direct City Rising. The film earned three Emmy awards including Best Social Issue Film.

William Newberg is the 2020 Middleton Award winner and class valedictorian. He is headed to the University of Virginia in the fall. Photo by Torrey Pocock, Riggo Pro Productions.

“I’ll be honest, when I first sat down to write this, I was conflicted, wondering how am I going to say something inspirational about the future when the future looks so uncertain? And then I sat down and thought about it. Doesn’t the future always look uncertain?” began Baghdadi. “In fact, isn’t that what makes life beautiful, is that we don’t know where it is going to take us.”

She went on to recall her time at Gunston including the time she started a film club and attempted to orchestrate a filming where she threw a dummy out of a third floor window on campus. “Well that wasn’t going to happen so I had to figure out a way to fake it in the edit. I’m sure I drove the staff nuts, so thanks for putting up with me. But really, it was that nurturing environment, the freedom to be myself and try new things, the personal attention. That’s what made Gunston so special.”

Baghdadi also recalled forgetting her lines in a school play and laughing on stage while the audience joined in with laughter, as well as playing field hockey in freezing cold weather with numb fingers, squinting through the sleet.

“I share these experiences, because it’s often the challenging experiences I remember the most and that’s because hardship is the essence of a good story,” she said. “So my advice, which is something I wish someone had said to me a long time ago, is don’t wait for someone to tell you your idea is good. Don’t wait for someone to tell you that you’re good enough. […] These days we are living in a time of great change, […] we have the ability to reimagine what’s possible, to move forward in a different way. The world needs curious minds to fathom better futures. That is exactly what you represent. After graduating, it doesn’t matter what field you go into, […] just remember that your ideas and your decisions matter. They mean something. You’re one person, but you’re part of an entire world and everything you do has a cause and effect. They say it takes 10,000 hours to master something. What do you want to master? […] What if you started by mastering the art of listening to your instinct? The art of human connection, of trust, and empathy. What would the world look like if everyone cared as much as you? Be curious, and most importantly, help people, help others along the way.”

The virtual commencement ceremony concluded with artfully crafted senior tributes, featuring a montage of photos for each student from the last four years as Lewis reflected on their individual journey and shared anecdotal stories about each student that he had spent the last four years meticulously collecting especially for this day. In addition, each tribute included remarks from each student’s faculty advisor.

Behind the scenes, Gunston staff and faculty began to plan for the virtual ceremony in late April, after realizing that an in-person celebration would not be possible. Gunston parent Torrey Pocock, owner of Riggo Productions, in Annapolis, MD stepped in to help.

“We jumped at the opportunity to help Gunston create a special moment for students and families using video and live video content. Knowing they would not get to experience the graduation they looked forward to for years, we wanted to help create something special,” says Pocock. “The hours and work were intense over a six week period of time, but pale in comparison to the work the school, administration and faculty put in to make sure each student had an online learning experience needed to meet the demands of the school’s academic standards during the COVID-19 quarantine and physical campus shut down.”

All of the videos were pre-recorded in the month leading up to graduation and streamed live. Filming took place over the course of about 11 days and 175 hours, both on location at Gunston and at Riggo Pro’s studio. Pocock and 11 crew members spent an additional 241 hours of editing to produce 92 individual student tribute and senior quote videos; 30 individual Green & White Award videos; the diploma printing process with Mr. Kaylor; a 1.5 hour live stream with drone footage for the diploma parade; and a 2 hour live stream pre-produced commencement show with six speakers (although that number is seven, if you include the bagpiper).

“Torrey Pocock and his team have done a beautiful job of capturing the deep love and care that our faculty, students, and community have for Gunston’s seniors in these heartfelt productions.  Their dedication and artistry shine through in what will be one of the most memorable graduations in Gunston’s 109-year history!  Thank you to all who had a part in creating such a meaningful celebration for our 2020 Graduates!” said Mark Wiening, Dean of Students and chair of the Graduation Committee.

Gunston’s 46 graduates include Andrew Amygdalos, Eileen Ashley, Yuntian (Areopl) Bai, Annie Bamford, MacCallum Borghardt, Mark Bourdin, Stephen Brown, Cotter Buckley, Michaela Campbell, Jianna Casiello, Ni (Katherine) Chen, Ruwen (Sona) Chen, Zaria Dalton, Nina De Angelo, Kate Dieterle, Keller Evans, Francesca (Frankie) Fisher, Cedar Foster, Annabelle Gillespie, David (Gabriel) Hightower, Lynsey Hildebrand, Grace Holmes, Wyatt Howell, Nicholas Kellogg, Xingyi (Liz) Li, Zeyu (Sage) Liu, Payton Lord, Hunter Mansfield, William Newberg, Michael Nickerson, John Pettit, Daphne Provance, Erica Reece, Madison Rudder, Mason Rudolfs, Isabella Santoboni, Maximillian (Max) Scott, Peter Sharpless, Abigail (Abby) Silva, Jackson Talbott, Qirui (Allen) Wang, Owen White, Hansheng (Leo) Xiao, Shijie (Daniel) Ye, Jiamin (Jimmy) Zhao, and Yaxuan (Joey) Zhuo.

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The Future of the Liberal Arts with St. John’s College President Peter Kanelos

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Peter Kanelos, the president of St. John’s College, makes it clear that he regards his school as essential to the future of higher education. That doesn’t seem to be such a remarkable statement on its own. One could argue that every college president says the same thing about their school. But President Kanelos’ point is still quite bold given that his institution bases its entire curriculum on the reading of the “Great Books” of world culture.

In fact, at a time when students, and their parents, have been conditioned to think of higher education is a necessary gateway to a professional career, Kanelos says that a St. John’s degree may be one of the worst preparations for landing an entry-level position after graduation but also the best education one can receive.

While St. John’s is one of the oldest colleges in America, its mission dramatically changed in the late 1930s when it was hit hard by the Great Depression. Facing low enrollment and limited cash reserves, The college leadership, with the help of a team of academics from the University of Chicago, pivoted from their traditional model and embraced a Great Books program that centered on around 500 great books. By studying these classics, students could build their intellectual muscles far more successfully than a college major program.

It was an audacious move in 1937, and it’s looking like one in 2020.

In the Spy’s first interview with President Kanelos, he talks about this unique approach to education, and how he and his institution are still radically changing the nature of higher education. That includes doing things like reducing tuition by thirty-three percent two years ago or by making a compelling argument that the years of the college major might be over.

This video is approximately twelve minutes in length. For more information about St. John’s College please  go here.

Woman’s Club of St. Michaels Presents Scholarships

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The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels recently presented scholarship awards to two graduates of St. Michaels High School, Adrianna DiSilvestro, and Sincere Taylor. Adrianna will be attending St. Andrews University with a major in biology and plans to focus on large animal nutrition and educate developing countries about livestock maintenance. Sincere will be attending Stevenson University with a major in biology and plans to become a physician, specializing in cardiology.

Adrianna DiSilvestro with mother.

Both of these outstanding young women have been inspired to pursue their careers because of their strong relationships with their mothers. As Adrianna was growing up, she developed her passion for horses by being involved with her mother’s business of rescuing abused animals. When Sincere was just ten years old her mother was studying to become an oncology nurse, and Sincere developed an interest in medicine when she started reading her mother’s medical textbooks. Sincere knows that growing up while her mom was attending college and witnessing her workload has given her a good idea of what to expect on her way to becoming a doctor.

Through its annual scholarship to a St. Michaels High School senior, the Woman’s Club of St. Michaels has been dedicated to helping young people who have demonstrated academic excellence and service to the community, achieve their promise and potential. This scholarship award of $6,000 is the major philanthropic outreach of the club and this year is divided among these two outstanding young women.

Sincere Taylor with mother.

The first scholarship award was granted in 1977. The scholarship may be given to an applicant planning to attend a 4-year college or university, a community college, or a vocational/ technology school. In 40 years, the Woman’s Club of St. Michaels has awarded over $200,000.00 to deserving St Michaels students.

Due to the circumstances of the Coronavirus, this year’s recipients were visited at their homes by the Scholarship Committee rather than being presented at the Woman’s Club annual end of year luncheon. The Scholarship Committee chair, Carolyn Wasdyke said, “As always, it is difficult to determine who is most worthy of our $6,000 scholarship, for many of the applicants are impressive young men and women who meet our stringent criteria. The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels wishes to congratulate the entire St. Michaels High School senior class of 2020 who have graduated under this year’s unprecedented circumstances.”

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TCPS Announces Curriculum Team Appointments for 2020-2021 School Year

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Talbot County Public Schools has announced the following appointments for the 2020-2021 school year.

Mrs. Robin Werner will transfer to the position of Local Accountability Coordinator (LAC) and Supervisor, Career and Technology Education. Mr. Thomas “Lee” Neild has been promoted to Curriculum Supervisor, Mathematics Grades 9-12 and Middle School Math Coach.

Mrs. Robin Werner

Mrs. Werner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science in Biology from West Virginia Wesleyan College, a Master of Education with a focus on Differentiated Instruction from LaSalle University and School Administration Certification from Salisbury University. She holds Advanced Professional Certificates in Biology and Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science.She taught Science and Career and Technology Education Courses at St. Michaels Middle High School before becoming Assistant Principal of Easton High School in 2018.

Mrs. Werner has served as a Professional Development Presenter and Facilitator and lead efforts to secure Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science Site Accreditation at St. Michaels Middle High School.  She was Talbot County Teacher of the Year in 2013-2014 and has been recognized as the Giant Teacher of the Month.  She lives in Bozman with her husband and son.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work with the students and staff at Easton High School over the last two years,” said Mrs. Werner.“I am grateful for the experience I gained at EHS and l am looking forward to the opportunity to serve the TCPS community in this new role.”

Mr. Thomas Neild

Mr. Neild holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Salisbury University, as well as Advanced Professional Certificates in Elementary Education 1-6 & Middle School, Middle School: Mathematics 4-9, and Administrator I/II.  Since 2007 he has taught Accelerated Math 7/8, and 8th Grade Math and Algebra at Easton Middle School.  He has served as Math Department Chair and School Improvement Team Chair, served on the Faculty Advisory Committee, and attended the Maryland State Department of Education Aspiring Leadership Institute.  Mr. Neild was also recognized as Giant Teacher of the Month. He resides in Hurlock with his wife and two children.

“I look forward to collaborating with teachers, administrators, families and students to create learning environments that build on our students’ strengths,” Mr. Neild said of his new role.“It is a passion and a goal of mine to pursue the focus of mathematics and its importance in the lives of students beyond their immediate future.”

“These highly qualified educators will be an asset to our Curriculum Team” said Dr. Helga Einhorn, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.  “I look forward to working with them to continue implementing the instructional initiatives that we have developed for these key content areas.”

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Washington College President Landgraf to Leave in September

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This morning, the Washington College community was greeted with the news that Kurt Landgraf, who became the 31st president of the 239 year old school, would be leaving his position by September.

In his statement, Landgraf outlined his decision to resign:

“My three year contract as President will expire at the end of June and I will move on to the next phase of my career. The past three years have been extraordinary and I am indebted to each of you for your support of my leadership. My immense respect for all faculty and staff has no limit. I will treasure the relationship I have established with each of you!

I have agreed to stay as College President long enough to allow the Board of Visitors and Governors to transition to new leadership and to facilitate the beginning of the new Academic year in this very difficult and challenging environment. I am prepared to stay through the end of September, if needed. I believe each of you will play an important role in helping to effect a smooth transition. I have a lot of confidence in each of you and the important roles you have in the mission of Washington College.”

Steve Golding, chair of the Board of Visitors and Governors, noted, “the Board and I are extremely appreciative of the leadership Kurt has shown these past three years, restoring stability to our campus and building bridges with our local, state, and philanthropic partners, in addition to the broader Washington College community.”

 

 

 

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