The Easton High School J. Willard Davis Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS)held an induction of new members who applied in the Fall of 2021with their first “in-person” ceremony since 2019.  Another induction will take place in late April for Spring 2022 applicants.

NHS is a national organization established in 1921, which serves to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. To be considered for induction into the National Honor Society, students must meet minimum criteria which include a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 86.5%, cumulative attendance rate equal to or greater than 94%, no more than 2 disciplinary referrals, and completion of at least 100 service learning hours.

Qualifying students are given the opportunity to submit applications and recommendations, which are reviewed by Easton High School faculty. The March 2022 Easton High NHS inductees are as follows:

Darlene Boleyley, Jack Jennings, Chiara Kalinski, Jenna Maki, Destiny Miller, Kairav Parker, Madeline Principe, McKenna Pritchett, Madison Spies

“Congratulations to this outstanding group of students on their achievements,” said Ms. Sherry Spurry, Easton High School Principal.  “They have continued to demonstrate leadership both as students and as members of their school community during a very challenging time, and I am very proud of all of them!”

The Tidewater Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) held a ceremony to induct new members for 2022.  St. Michaels High School modified their unique “Tapping Ceremony,” and held their first in person induction with parents attending in two years.

NHS is a national organization established in 1921, which serves to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Eligibility is open to juniors and seniors with a 3.2 GPA and 75 service learning hours completed.  Those students receive an application to submit, which goes before a Staff Review Committee comprised of teachers, club advisors, and coaches to review and select students.  Selection is based on the 4 NHS Principles: Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship. Mr. JR Burkhardt, Guidance Counselor serves as St. Michaels High School’s National Honor Society Faculty Advisor.  Tori Batley is the current President, Macy Motovidlak is Vice President, Steve Shaak is Treasurer and Julie Bridges serves as Secretary.

The 2022 St. Michaels High School NHS inductees are as follows:

Rabia Aqil, Bailey Blades, Makenna Culver, Matthew Fisher, Mackenzie Fox, Nick Grassini, Sean Gunshenan, Hannah Hock, Abbie Kemp, Tucker Kerr, JT Lizewski, Yarivel Mazariegos-Bartolon, Kyle Miller, Kelvin Montoya-Guzman, Ethan Morrison, Riley Papineau, Maxine Poe-Jensen, Ethan Rash, Nathan Sadler, Janya Seth, Randy Soto-Mendez, Caroline Trice, Jessi Watts, Lukas Wittman, Alyssa Wojcik

“I am extremely proud of these students for their work both in and out of the classroom, and for the example they set for their peers as student leaders,” said Mrs. Theresa Vener, Principal. “I am so glad that we were able to celebrate their induction in person, something we once took for granted.  Congratulations to the students and their families.”

A ceremony was held at Easton High School to induct new members into the school’s chapter of the National Latin Honor Society (NLHS). NLHS membership is granted to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and citizenship in Latin class.

The program included a welcome by NLHS President Madeline Principe and an introduction by Mrs. Inna Kunz, NLHS Advisor. Guest Speakers Natasha Panduwawala and Emily Redmond, EHS Class of 2019, shared their reflections on establishing the NLHS at Easton High.

The inductees and officers recited the National Junior Classical League Creed, vowing to “hand on the torch of classical civilization in the modern world,” to uphold the standards of achievement of NLHS, and to continue to strive for excellence. “Our NLHS chapter stayed strong and productive through the covid pandemic but we are eager to get back to full strength with this infusion of passionate students,” said Mrs. Kunz. “We already have a team of old and new members participating in the Lip Sync Battle to benefit the Talbot Interfaith Shelter and other projects in the works.”

2022 Inductees:

New Members:
Kate Adelman, Josephine Ball, Sophia Bullock, Kaleigh Buxton, Julian Hutchison, Sydney Lanier, Mia Mazzeo, Elaina Steinly, Abigail Wise

Returning Members:
Sara Chapple, Chillian Cuthbert-Emon, Julia Fitzroy, Lily Harrison, Olivia Kilbourne, Rachel Lapp, Sophie Leight, Alondra Moreno Santana, Mariana Parkinson, Maxine Poe-Jensen, Madeline Principe, Estella Thomas, Van Tran, Ella Wise

TCPS elementary students recently demonstrated their culinary skills in Sodexo’s 2022 Future Chef Culinary Competition. The event is an exciting and engaging way to encourage students to learn more about healthy food choices by participating in a recipe contest, and is sponsored by Sodexo, provider of TCPS food services.

School districts across the country are holding Future Chef events this Spring. The winning student from each participating district will be considered for regional finalist awards. The selected regional finalists will have a chance to become a national finalist, competing for the public’s vote on a special Future Chefs YouTube channel.

The TCPS Future Chef Culinary competition was held at Easton Elementary School, and the culinary theme this year was “A Healthy Recipe From Your Favorite Book or Movie.” Recipes were evaluated based on the following criteria: originality, healthy attributes, ease of preparation, kid appeal, plate presentation, use of featured ingredients, and last but not least, taste!  The panel of judges included Kelly Griffith, Superintendent, Michael Garman, Board of Education Vice President; Emily Jackson, Otis Sampson, and Mary Wheeler, Board of Education Members; and Sarah Jones, TCPS Chief Financial Officer. The following TCPS district finalists prepared their outstanding recipes:

1^st Place – Ava Stockhausen, SMES 4^th grade – Sunshine Smoothie Bowls

2^nd Place – Micah George, EES 5^th grade – Back to the Future Mini Pizzas

3^rd Place – Juliette Morris, WMES 4^thgrade – Pumpkin Pasties

4^th Place – Kennedy Smith, TES 3^rdgrade – Remy’s Ratatouille

5^th Place – Stefany Mendiola Ponce – CDES 3^rdgrade – Cowboy Caviar

“I am always amazed by the recipes that our “Future Chefs” create for this competition,” said Dr. Griffith. “I enjoyed each and every dish that they prepared, and was very proud of their poise in their presentations.  I congratulate them all, and hope they continue developing their culinary talents! Many thanks to our Sodexo team, especially Mrs. Vickie Mueller and Mr. Michael George, for providing this opportunity for the kids.”

Easton High School’s Culinary Arts Program has been identified as “Exemplary” by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC).

To qualify as an ACFEF Exemplary Program, a program must be confirmed in full compliance with ACFEF standards on based on an extensive application process and site visit. Those programs receive a grant of Accreditation and the Exemplary status. The Easton High School program, led by Mrs. Linda Brown and Mr. Joseph Candel, is one of eleven exemplary programs in Maryland. Additionally, Easton High’s Program is one of five exemplary programs in Maryland that is located in a comprehensive high school, meaning students are able to complete the Culinary Arts Program while also having access to all other high school courses.

In February, a team evaluating the program conducted an onsite visit. Utilizing a checklist and comparison of the program to the nationally recognized ACFEF Standards, the team determined that the program had substantially met the required eight (8) Standards areas in their entirety:  Eligibility, Program Mission and Goals, Organization and Administration, Faculty and Staff, Curriculum, Facilities, Student Services and Assessment. A special emblem reflecting this prestigious status will be placed next to Easton High School’s information on the ACF website.

“Talbot county students are extremely fortunate to have access to the Culinary Arts Program,” said Mrs. Robin Werner, Curriculum Supervisor for Career and Technical Education.“Students completing our program have found great success applying their skills and knowledge to internships, careers and post-secondary opportunities.”

“Despite the challenges of the past two school years, our instructors showed incredible innovation and creativity to ensure students received the training necessary to be successful,” Mrs. Werner added.“We are also grateful to the local community partners who have played a part in our student’s success as interns. The exemplary status is a true testament to the dedication of our instructors, students and our community.”

The Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland State Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education (MCGATE) hosted a virtual ceremony on February 23, “Celebrating Gifted and Talented Education in Maryland.”  The program included a presentation of a Governor’s Proclamation identifying February as Gifted and Talented Education Month in Maryland. Schools, businesses, and educators were recognized in a number of categories for leadership and Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE).  The EGATE awards recognize educators whose achievements significantly contribute to equity and excellence in gifted education and support the MCGATE mission that “every student should experience the joy of learning something new every day.”

Ms. Carol Reed, a Talbot County Public Schools Gifted and Talented (GT) teacher, was honored as an Outstanding Educator in Gifted and Talented Education –Teacher As Leader. The criteria for this award are as follows:

1. The teacher works directly with advanced or gifted and talented students, or the teachers of those students, AND responsively addresses the needs of gifted and talented students beyond the required expectations of their position.
2. The teacher pursues ONGOING professional development in (GT) education such as graduate courses, workshops, conferences, etc.
3. The teacher demonstrates peer leadership in GT education by providing professional development, writing curriculum, or leading co-curricular or community outreach activities.

In her nomination, Jeanne L. Paynter Ed.D., Educating Innovators, explained that Ms. Reed has demonstrated peer leadership in GT Education through the following roles/experiences:

• Consultant: Instructor for Graduate classes
• Differentiated Instruction, UDL, Reflective Teacher; Critical and Creative Thinking Courses
• La Salle University, Regional Training Center (RTC)
• Theater Director, St. Michaels
• Humanities Chair, Team Leader, Learning Specialist, Teacher, The Key School
• Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Teacher, Theater Chair
• Writer in Residence, Instructor. Summer Center for Gifted and Talented Writing and Humanities, Washington College, MD

Ms. Reed is currently a GT teacher for 5^th-grade students, following the William and Mary Persuasive eReasoning Curriculum.  She also rotates to each elementary school for Primary Talent Development for kindergarten to second grade, and coaches other teachers who work with GT students.  She collaborates with Art and Graphic Design teachers to create “Spindrift,” the Literary Arts magazine for high school students, as well as a newly launched elementary and middle school version. She teaches graduate classes for LaSalle University and the Regional Training Center, and is a published poet.  Ms. Reed is married to Mr. Thomas Callahan, who has also had a distinguished career as an educator, and they are proud parents of a TCPS alumnus.

“Ms. Reed has brought energy and expertise to our GT Team,” said Dr. Sherry Sutton, Curriculum Supervisor for Gifted and Talented.“She understands the needs of Gifted children and works very hard to meet those needs both intellectually and emotionally.”

Talbot County and Easton High School Athletic Director Kurisha Hoffman has been named District 8 Athletic Director of the Year.  Ms. Hoffman was nominated by the Bayside Conference Athletic Directors for this honor.

A graduate of Salisbury University and former member of the SU Softball Team, Hoffman has been in education for 13 years and has served as athletic director for 6 years. She is the district 8 representative on the student leadership board for the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA).  Throughout the past 13 years she has coached volleyball, basketball, and softball. She has coached multiple teams who have won bayside championships, regional championships, and state championships.

“I love what I do, and I love seeing the student-athletes succeed both in and out of the classroom,” Hoffman said. “It has been a privilege and honor working with the coaches and administrative team at Easton High, and I look forward to many more years as Athletic Director.”

Each year, Talbot County Public Schools honors teachers and support staff through the Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year Program. This provides the opportunity to recognize outstanding educators who implement innovative ideas, focus positive attention on education, and demonstrate superior commitment to students and the community.

Any member of the community may nominate teachers or support staff for these prestigious awards. The nomination period runs from early January through the first week of February. A committee comprised of former Talbot Teachers of the Year reviews the resumes of all of the nominees who choose to formally apply and select the Teacher of the Year Finalists, which are announced in mid-February. Finalists prepare packets that highlight their work in their school and community. These packets are reviewed by the committee, and the Talbot Teacher of the Year is announced in early April.

At the same time, a separate committee reviews the Support Staff of the Year nominations and resumes and selects the finalists. This winner is also announced in early April.

Four finalists have been selected from the nominations for Teacher of the Year and three were selected for Support Staff of the Year. TCPS is pleased to recognize these outstanding educators.

Teacher of the Year Finalists:

Lutisia (Tish) Blessing – Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, White Marsh Elementary
Kelley Cummings – First Grade Teacher, St. Michaels Elementary
Jeremy Hillyard – Spanish Teacher, Easton High
Katherine (Katie) Spies – Kindergarten Teacher, Easton Elementary

Support Staff of the Year Finalists:

Beverly Brooks –Instructional Assistant for Special Education, Easton High
Dena Decelle – Library Media Assistant, Tilghman Elementary
Berenice Orellana – Multilingual Family Liaison, Easton High

“These outstanding educators reflect the highest level of dedication to Talbot County children” said Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent. “They have all navigated the most challenging time in education with unwavering commitment and positive attitudes, while maintaining high standards for their students and themselves. I would like to thank everyone who nominated members of our staff for this recognition and congratulate all of the nominees and finalists!”

The 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the year winners will be announced on April 8, 2022.

Dr. Griffith and the Talbot County Public Schools Senior Leadership Team presented a revised proposed budget to the Board of Education at their February meeting.

The original FY23 Budget of $64,260,434 presented in December, reflected a total increase of $3.8 million from the FY22 budget.  This increase addressed staff salary increases and fixed charges, reinstatement of field trips, four new bus leases, special education nursing services and transportation increases, 5.5 new positions, and technology upgrades.

At their January meeting, the board approved an amended total budget request of $64,704,706, having added $444,272 to their original draft budget to support needs for Gifted and Talented, afterschool programming, mental health resources and the Blueprint Implementation Coordinator.  They also approved adding $1.8 million for athletic turf fields to the capital budget request.

The Maryland State Department of Education subsequently notified TCPS Administration of three possible funding scenarios, the most likely being an increase of $6.7 million in “local share” funding from Talbot County and an increase of $858,000 from the Maryland State Department of Education(MSDE) to address the directives in the mandated “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.”  Key elementsof this are the requirements that teacher salaries be increased by 10% between FY19 and FY24and starting teacher salaries be increased to $60,000 by FY27. One day prior to the February 9 board meeting, TCPS administration was notified that their actual local share would be reduced by $4.8 million from the previously estimated funding.  This reduction brought the total projected FY23 revenue down to $63,924,658, which was $780,048 less than the January 2022 proposed budget.

TCPS Administration reviewed the entire FY23 budget yet again to find additional adjustments, which included moving expenses to grant funding, salary savings due to retirements, and prepayment of fixed charges.  Dr. Griffith then presented additional budgetary recommendations to meet the expectations of the Blueprint requirements as well as to address the needs resulting from discontinued grants.

Following deliberation, the Board of Education approved a final budget request in the amount of $66,340,267.  “Putting students and teachers first is the top priority for the Talbot County Board of Education,” said Ms. Susan Delean-Botkin, Board President. “The Board worked diligently with Superintendent Griffith, Mrs. Sarah Jones, and TCPS Senior Leadership to craft the FY 23 budget for our school district.”

“TCPS is poised to take advantage of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Maryland HB1300) by investing in our teachers, our support staff, and our educational programs. This budget will pave the way for the successful future of Talbot County,” Ms. Delean-Botkin added.  “We are very pleased with the success of some of the new CTE programs we have invested in such as the NJROTCand CNA programs, and look forward to creating more opportunities for TCPS students.”

The board-approved budget request will be presented to the Talbot County Council on March 1, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

The Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation (TCPSEF) will fund several exciting teacher grant requests during the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year.  TCPSEF 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. The following projects received funding:

“Build A Civilization” – Vanessa Sullivan, GTI Teacher

Students in the 4th Grade GTI Program at Chapel District, Easton, St. Michaels and White Marsh Elementary Schools will research and build a civilization for excavation. Exploring ancient cultures is an integral part of their work in the William & Mary “What a Find!” unit. The unit asks students to take the role of an assistant director of a local museum.  A problem arises when the “museum archaeologist” resigns, and a construction company unearths valuable artifacts. Students must follow the problem to its resolution as they learn about archaeology and its processes. Students are asked to investigate ancient cultures and understanding cultures as systems, and apply their understanding to their own culture.

Studentswill use the GTI learning platform, Renzulli Learning. They will use their knowledge to recreate a miniature model of a possible excavation site that will include artifacts. Students will use clay and polymer clay to build their site and create the artifacts for their civilizations. These artifacts will be unearthed by their peers and provide clues to the ancient civilization’s culture. Their inferences will lead students in deciding what civilization they have unearthed, and provide the evidence to support their decisions.

“In completing this project students will learn about ancient civilizations and elements of culture,” Ms. Sullivan said. “They will be able to connect this learning to their culture and the significance it has in their daily life. The students will gain an understanding of archaeology, and perhaps consider it as a future study or career.”

“Chapel District Yoga Club” – Amanda Starsoneck, Special Education Teacher

The Chapel District Yoga Club will be a one-hour after school program for students to practice yoga and mindfulness in classes specifically designed for children.  Students would be able to participate in an interactive class format featuring breathing exercises, yoga games and exercises, meditations, and even creative art and music activities with the guidance of Amanda Starsoneck, Special Education Teacher and a Radiant Child Yoga trained teacher.

Yoga offers children strategies to help them as they journey with developing their social emotional skills. From the affirmations they practice in meditations, to the breath-work that sends the brain messages to calm down, and even the yoga games that promote confidence and mind/body awareness, participants in the Yoga Club will walk away with a variety of skills. In short, some of the outcomes students will learn and acquire are: self-discipline, mind and body coordination, growth of interoception and intuition skills, ability to identify emotions, acquisition of positive strategies to handle internal and external conflicts, measurement and goal setting abilities, as well as developing self-reliance and regulation skills.

“Students who develop self-confidence and calming strategies are better equipped to learn in the classroom setting,” Ms. Starsoneck explained. “This can positively impact them all throughout the course of their educational and professional careers. Students who can identify their feelings and utilize strategies to cope with them are also able to enhance their familial and social relationships.”

“Setting the FUNdation for Successful Readers” – Krystle Taylor, Reading Specialist

Kindergarten is always a critical year for our students, but it is even more so this year with the number of children who were unable to attend Pre-Kindergarten during the 2020-2021 school year. In Kindergarten students are taught physical development skills, language and literacy, thinking and cognitive skills, and also social-emotional development skills. Literacy is a major focus in early learning classrooms because these skills are critical to future academic success. With this grant, Chapel District will utilize, Wilson FUNdations, a research-based intervention program that aligns with college and career-ready standards. It is a systematic program that focuses on critical foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, high frequency word study, reading fluency, vocabulary, spelling, handwriting, and comprehension. FUNdations is designed to be combined with the existing English Language Arts curriculum in the Kindergarten classrooms for students who are identified at risk and some risk. The intervention instruction will take place in small groups with the teacher for 20-30 minutes each day.

“As a Reading Specialist I have been able to use FUNdations intervention with many of the students I have worked with over the years,” Mrs. Taylor said. “I have had the opportunity to see the impact it makes and see the students’ success with this intervention. I believe that our students need all the support they can get as we are still navigating this school year. Our children are the future and in order to achieve success throughout their school years we need to set the foundation for them now!”

“Our Teacher Grants program is possible because of generous financial support from our community,” said David Short, Board Chair. “We are grateful to all of the donors who have contributed to events such as “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and Mission Possible,” as well as our annual appeals.  Supporting quality public education is one of the most important things we can do as concerned citizens of Talbot County.”

For more information about the TCPS Education Foundation, or to make a donation to support innovative teacher grants, visit www.tcpsef.org or contact Debbie Gardner, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special programs at (410)822-0330 ext. 102 or [email protected].