Education Foundation Announces Fall Event

The TCPS Education Foundation announces its first annual “Mission Possible –Celebrating TCPS Alumni and Supporting Teachers” fundraiser on Friday November 16 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Milestone Event Center.  The event will include a cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a reverse auction benefitting the foundation’s Grants for Teachers program.

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.  “We are very excited about our first Fall Event,” said Becky Firth, Foundation Advisory Board and event committee member.  “This is an opportunity for TCPS Alumni and other members of the community to enjoy a fun evening together while supporting our teachers and students.  Several teachers will be on hand to share their grant proposals so that guests can see first-hand examples of the incredible instructional initiatives that we are striving to fund.”Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased on-line at www.tcpsedfoundation.org or by calling Debbie Gardner at (410)822-0330, ext. 102. There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available as well. The Education Foundation is most grateful for sponsorship commitments from Paris Foods, The Star Democrat, Sodexo Margy and Jim Robfogel, Margret Quimby, DDS, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, The Whalen Company, 1880 Bank, For All Seasons, the Hopkins Group, LLC, Easton High Alumni Association, Ewing Dietz Fountain & Kaludis and Mr. and Mrs. Brent Spurry!

The 2018 Mission Possible Honorees were selected for their outstanding accomplishments, their commitment to giving back to their communities, and their belief in and support of public education.

Mr. Otis E. Sampson, Moton High School, Class of 1963

After graduating from high school, Mr. Sampson attended the Radio School of Announcing and Speech in New York City and the Radio Engineering Institute of Virginia.  Early in his career he worked in radio broadcasting, as well as the newspaper business.  He also worked for Black & Decker and Lowe’s Home Improvement Store.  Throughout his life, he has given back to the community in numerous ways, including serving as a special advocate for CASA of Talbot County for 12 years, as a member of the Affordable Housing Board for the Town of Easton, President of the Talbot County branch of the NAACP, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Service Center, Inc. and Talbot County Commission on Aging. He is a past member of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the Samuel T. Hemsley Elks Lodge #974 of IBPOE, and the Moton Alumni Association.  Mr. Sampson has received the Community Champion Award from Verizon and the NAACP, was nominated for the Maryland’s Most Beautiful People Award, and received the Ministers and Citizens for Change Award. He has also been nominated for the Maryland’s Most Beautiful People Award.  Mr. Sampson currently serves as a member of the Talbot County Board of Education.

Captain Ann F. Stencil, USN (ret), Easton High School, Class of 1976

Following in her father and brother’s footsteps, Captain Stencil is a proud graduate of the first class of the United States Naval Academy to integrate women (1980).  In addition to her Bachelor’s degree, she holds two Master of Science degrees, and she credits Talbot County Public Schools with setting her on a course for a lifetime of advanced education.  Her 27-year military career took her around the globe with assignments in multiple cities such as Moscow, Tokyo, Stockholm, Seoul, Istanbul and Alice Springs.  She became the first female Military Training Officer at the all-male bootcamp in San Diego, was the director of Protocol for the Secretary of Defense, and had command of 32 recruiting stations in the south.  Since retiring from the military, she has worked in defense contracting, and is now the Executive Consultant for Bravo Zulu Consulting, LLC.  She has served on the Board of Directors for the Naval Federal Credit Union,  the Executive Council for the Nation’s celebration of the 200^th Anniversary of the War of 1812, the Board of Directors for the Cooke’s Hope Homeowner’s Association, and has volunteered for Talbot Hospice.

Mr. John R. Valliant, Saint Michaels Middle High School Class of1971

Mr. Valliant Earned a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University.  His additional education includes the Grantsmanship Training Center, Leadership Maryland, Board Source, and the Smithsonian Institution Management Course.  Mr. Valliant has been the President of the Grayce B. Kerr Fund, Inc. in Easton, Maryland and the Principal of Responsible Philanthropy Group, LLC since 2006.   Prior to that he spent nearly 20 years in leadership positions with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, ultimately serving as President from 2002 – 2006.  Mr. Valliant has extensive experience providing consulting services for museums in Maine, Maryland and Florida.  He has served on the Board of Directors of multiple organizations, including the St. Michaels High School Alumni Association, the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Maryland Heritage Alliance, and the ACE Mentoring Program.  He has been the President of the Maryland Association of History Museums, Treasurer of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, and the President of the Council of American Maritime Museums.

The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation was established in 2016 in partnership with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.  Its mission is to engage and utilize community resources to provide TCPS students and teachers with otherwise unavailable enrichment opportunities that will enhance the TCPS educational experience and produce exceptional graduates.  Since its inception, the foundation has funded more than $16,000 in grants for teachers including projects such as “Creating Robotic Engineers,” “Diversity in Classroom Libraries,” “Hands-On Life Science,” “STEM with Drones” and an “Outdoor Classroom.”  To learn more about supporting the Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation, visit their website at www.tcpsedfoundation.org or contact Debbie Gardner, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs at 410-822-0330 ext. 102 or by email at [email protected].