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April 10, 2021

The Chestertown Spy

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Education Ed Homepage Education Ed Portal Lead Spy Top Story

At the Starr Center: “Freedom Riders” with Stanley Nelson

March 24, 2021 by James Dissette Leave a Comment

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The March 25 Thursdays with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience offers a virtual film screening of “Freedom Riders” by celebrated director Stanley Nelson. A Q and A with Stanley Nelson will follow at 7 pm.

The year was 1961 and the Deep South was steeped in racial inequality when 400 black and white Americans challenged the Jim Crow laws of a segregated interstate travel system traveling by buses together. They risked beatings, imprisonment, and death to bring their message of non-violent protest to the wider world and to test the compliance of two Supreme Court rulings: segregated bathrooms, waiting rooms, and lunch counters were unconstitutional; it was unconstitutional to implement and enforce segregation on interstate buses and trains.

Of the many defining moments in the Freedom Rider’s journey through the South, the bus bombing and beatings in Anniston, Alabama stands at the apex of the brutality they endured. A 21-year-old John Lewis was one of the original 13 Freedom Riders on a second bus in Montgomery, Alabama attacked by the KKK and other white supremacists, a fate he would suffer many times in his life as he emerged as one of the country’s leading civil rights activists.

“Freedom Riders” (2010) is an extraordinary documentary of that year and how the movement forced the realization of racial injustice into the Kennedy White House and into the American living room.

A 2011 New York Times review stated, “It is hard to imagine a feature film conveying the events with a more vivid sense of drama or suspense. The commentators —the riders themselves, historians, politicians, civil rights leaders — have mostly been chosen for an uncanny ability to convey the tension in a present-tense reconstruction. Blowhards and professors of the obvious have been excised, and the archival photographs and news clips have been edited down to those most affecting and lyrical.”

Starr Center’s Digital Historian and Archivist Jasmyn R. Castro was instrumental in arranging the event. “When I attended NYU’s Moving Image Archiving and Preservation Master’s Program I was part of a student chapter of the Association of Moving Image Archivists that organized a screening and Q and A of “Freedom Summer” and we invited Stanley Nelson to attend.”

Castro thought “Freedom Riders” and its famous director would be an ideal presentation for the Starr Center. He happily accepted the invitation.

“A colleague of mine, Carmel Curtis, from Indiana University will act as moderator during the Q and A and I’m also excited to have found out that former Director of Kent Arts Council Leslie Raimond had archival video of Freedom Riders coming through Chestertown in the 1960s,” she says. The original footage has been cleaned and digitized and will be shown in the background of the question and answer session.

Reverend Brown of Chestertown, whose father welcomed the Freedom Riders to Chestertown will also participate in the discussion.

The Starr Center notes that “Stanley Nelson is today’s leading documentarian of the African American experience. His films combine compelling narratives with rich historical detail to shine new light on the under-explored American past. Awards received over the course of his career include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and lifetime achievement awards from the Emmys and IDA. In 2013, Nelson received the National Medal in the Humanities from President Obama. In 2019 “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” was nominated by the GRAMMYs for Best Music Film. Nelson’s latest documentary, “Crack: Cocaine, Conspiracy, & Corruption” debuted on Netflix in 2021.”

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. ET with a free, two-hour screening of Nelson’s “Freedom Riders.” After a brief intermission, starting at 7 p.m., Nelson will share with us his professional insights about the film. A moderated Q&A with Nelson with conclude our time together. Join us for the screening at 5 p.m. and the conversation at 7 p.m. or just drop in for the conversation at 7 p.m.

To Register for the event, go here. To watch the film beforehand, go here.

 

 

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead, Spy Top Story

Sultana Continues Free Speaker Series for the Public

March 18, 2021 by Sultana Education Foundation Leave a Comment

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Clarence Gilmer

Now through May, the Sultana Education Foundation will host its public speaker program, Sultana Sessions, a free livestream series featuring a range of topics in history, ecology and the humanities of the Chesapeake Bay Region. This Thursday at 7pm EST, SEF will host special guests Doncella Wilson and Clarence Gilmer to discuss ‘Diversity In The Outdoors’, a hot topic in today’s news. Wilson and Gilmer will join Sultana’s Lawrence Wetland Preserve Manager and Program Instructor, John Mann, to discuss their experiences in the outdoors and potential barriers that may be preventing more African American people from enjoying outdoor experiences on the Eastern Shore. They will also talk strategies for organizations, similar to Sultana, as they aim to increase diversity both amongst their staff and their program participants.

“The beauty of the livestream format is that viewers can interact with us in real time,” said Mann. “The technology allows viewers to ask questions and share personal experiences with our speakers, giving them interactions our community craves right now. With this topic gaining public attraction in recent years, we’re hoping to see a diverse audience, with various ideas and perspectives.”

Doncella Wilson

Doncella Wilson is a Councilwoman in Denton, MD, and a native to the Eastern Shore. She is the cofounder of Minary’s Dream Alliance, Inc., located in Kent County, MD, and aims to foster positive outdoor experiences for African American youth. Clarence Gilmer is an outdoor educator and former teacher at Echo Hill Outdoor School, specializing in primitive and survival skills. Clarence appeared 3 times in the Discovery Channel’s hit series, Naked And Afraid.

The episode will stream live on Thursday, March 18 at 7PM via https://www.facebook.com/SultanaEducation/live/. Please note, a Facebook account is NOT required to use join the speaker series. To see a full schedule of episodes and more information, please visit https://sultanaeducation.org/public-programs/.

Filed Under: Ed Homepage Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, Education, Sultana

Breaking Away: Radcliffe Creek School Seeks New Provider for Little Creek Preschool

February 23, 2021 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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The Spy was not entirely surprised the other day when Radcliffe Creek School’s board of trustees announced that it would be seeking a new provider for its auxiliary preschool program known as Little Creek School.

Little Creek came into being as a way for Radcliffe Creek teachers to enroll their children in a pre-K program and quickly grew into a popular school option for other working parents in the region that wanted their youngsters to experience unique learning opportunities before their kids entered primary school.

And over the years, Little Creek has done just that. Since it was founded, hundreds of Kent County toddlers and their parents have reaped the benefits of smaller class sizes and individualized learning to meet its students’ specific needs.

But as the Radcliffe Creek School board began to work on its five-year strategic plan, members came to the difficult conclusion that its priority must be with the core mission of its primary school. While the school’s administrators have gracefully provided oversight for Little Creek, it has been clear for some time that these two schools required independent management to successfully continue the high-quality standards both have achieved over the years.

For those compelling reasons, Radcliffe announced last week that it planned to close Little Creek in August 2021. It also launched a new initiative to attract a reputable childcare provider to take over Little Creek’s mission before that terminal date.

The Spy spoke with Head of School Meg Bamford and Board President Rob Ditmars to understand more about this important transition in Kent County education.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about Radcliffe Creek School and Little Creek School please go here.

 

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead, Ed Portal Lead, Spy Highlights

Mid-Shore Scholars: Andrey Perez and Washington College’s Scholar Program

February 23, 2021 by The Spy 1 Comment

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It might tell you something about Andrey Perez that he’s a hard interview to get. With a full school schedule, sports, and a part-time job at the new Chick-fil-A in Cambridge, the only time he could fit in a Zoom call was during his lunch break at work.

It is one of many hints of how motivated Andrey is to move ahead in this world. The son of first-generation Americans, the Sts. Peter and Paul High School student started to lay out a plan for his future after taking a personal finance course and discovering his interest in the medical field down the road. And included in that plan was, of course, higher education.

And that’s when Andrey turned to the Mid-Shore Scholars program.

With the help of this unique organization’s support and mentoring, the Andrey Perez’s of the world can navigate the complex elements of college admissions, including the college selection process, filling out forms, or even finding the money needed to even apply to a school.

In Andrey’s case, he will be the second Mid-Shore Scholar since the program started a few years ago. While almost twenty-five students are now in the pipeline to follow him in the years to come, the volunteers and staff are collectively holding their breath as he awaits hearing from the school of his choice; Washington College.

Not only has Andrey applied, but he recently was nominated to apply to the school’s prestigious Washington Scholars program, which provides its award-winners a free ride for four years on both tuition and housing.

The Spy checked with Andrey and Mid-Shore Scholars director Vivian Landau a few days ago to hear more about his aspirations and the great benefits that come with participating in such a successful preparatory support program.

With fingers crossed, Andrey will hear soon from WC while his Mid-Shore community awaits the news with double-crosses theirs.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Mid-Shore Scholars please go here.

 

 

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead

Reaching Tilghman: Educator Bruce Glover on Teaching the Disabled by Zoom

February 13, 2021 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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Undoubtedly one of the immensely satisfying moments for any teacher is the look of a student who is absorbing the lesson taught. It could be an expression of the eyes, an unexpected question, the nod of the head, or an appreciative smile of a young person knowing something new. It is one of those simple pleasures that make the role of educator all the more rewarding.

But what happens when one of the best students you have is physically unable to send out these traditional messages that note comprehension? That is one of the challenges that Eastern Shore educator Bruce Glover has faced and resolved with his remote learning work with Oxford’s Tilghman Logan.

Tilghman has severe cerebral palsy, which limits his physical movement to one hand. But by creatively designing his learning experience online, both teacher and student have found a special union that Bruce hopes will lead Tilghman to express his thoughts and ideas through visual art.

The Spy caught up with Bruce a few weeks ago from his home in Salisbury to talk about his work with Tilghman and how educators can reach out to others with his unique challenges.

This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Tilghman and remote learning please go here

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead

Omicron-Phi Chapter of Kappa Sigma: Sweet Appreciation for Frontline Workers

January 12, 2021 by James Dissette 2 Comments

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Pete Fisher, parking attendant, UM shore Medical Center at Chestertown, and Omicron-Phi Advisor Dr. Aaron Krochmal.

Sometimes it’s the small things, a courtesy of holding the door open for someone, an elbow bump to an old friend, an attaboy for a job well done all the gestures of fellowship that brighten a community.

The Brothers of the Omicron-Phi chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity at Washington College made such a gesture by delivering 500 lollipops to UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown to revive the tradition of giving a to each person receiving a Covid-19 vaccination.

“The Brothers were looking for a way to thank and congratulate all the brave people caring for the health and well-being of all of Kent County,” says Executive Director, Chester River Health Foundation Maryann Ruehrmund.

It was also a great way to remind the community of Kappa Sigma’s volunteer efforts to raise awareness and money for worthy causes.

Kappa Sigma advisor Aaron Krochmal says that the 20-strong members of the Washington College fraternity wanted to reach out to the community healthcare workers as a token of their appreciation. “We thought it was a simple way to bring a smile to and thank those on the front lines in Kent County.”

The Omicron-Phi chapter of Kappa Sigma has a reputation in the community for doing good works. Since 2007, Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Washington College hosts their Semi-Annual Charity Pancake Breakfast held at the Emmanuel Church. The event includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, juices, and coffee for only $5.00. 100% of funds raised are donated to charity. Over the last 13 years, the event has raised nearly $40,000.

Kappa Sigma, founded at UVA in 1869, is one of the leading chapters for raising awareness and funds for philanthropic causes worldwide. Its worldwide Community Service Initiative has raised more than $6.7 million for charity and has volunteered over 1.4 million community service hours from 2015-2017. There are more than 200,000 living members, including 17,000 undergraduates in the fraternity.

More information about Omicron-Phi Chapter of Kappa Sigma at Washington College may be found here or the general fraternity here.

 

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead

Proof of Concept: Talbot Mentors’ Scholar Program Showing Results

December 22, 2020 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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Less than two years ago, Talbot Mentors decided to merge with the start-up Mid-Shore Scholars organization to expand their mission to improve young people’s personal and professional lives. In this case, Mentors folded in the Mid-Shore Scholars program to ensure that high school students were supported as they sought out higher education and the daunting challenges that come with the admissions process.

Two recent examples of this outstanding support are worth sharing with the community. One of their first students just completed her first semester at Washington College. Sheily Bartolon Perez passed all her courses with straight A’s even while coping with remote classes and the lack of the anticipated time with her professors.

Her cousin, Naiset Perez, took note of Sheily’s successful transition to college and also joined the Scholars program. Just a few weeks ago, she found in her email inbox the extraordinary news that she had been accepted at Dartmouth College, one of the most competitive undergraduate programs in the country.

For Talbot Mentors executive director Gerson Martinez, along with program director Vivian Landau, this kind of track record demonstrates that some of the region’s most disadvantaged young people can, with the right kind of support, find themselves attending some of the most demanding schools and thrive academically.

While Martinez is the first to note that Naiset and Sheily’s success stories have come early in a long-term strategy for Talbot Mentors, this kind of “proof of concept” has made everyone at the organization feel like they have something to celebrate.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about Talbot Mentors please go here.

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead, Spy Top Story

Experts: Virtual Learning Can Work But Requires Time and Professional Training

November 20, 2020 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

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While some parents are imploring school systems to return students to classrooms, experts argue that the sudden disruption to traditional schooling provides teachers a unique opportunity to educate in new ways. But it will require time, expansion of broadband internet and long-term investment in professional development for educators.

Trying to recreate the old model of learning, which was developed in the late 19th century, into remote instruction “is like cramming a square peg into a round hole. It’s just not compatible,” Ryan Schaaf, an assistant professor at Notre Dame of Maryland University, told state lawmakers during a virtual education briefing Thursday afternoon.

The status quo of teaching is not working for all types of students, so teachers should take this time to learn how to use technology to meet the needs of diverse learners, said Monica Simonsen, the education program director of University of Maryland Global Campus.

“As someone who has taught online for a decade, I really believe that there are some things I can do better online than I could do in person,” Simonsen said. “This is an opportunity to rethink things.”

A physics teacher in Somerset County could help address a teacher shortage in another district by Zooming into their classroom, Simonsen said. To resolve overcrowding in classrooms, teachers could broadcast lectures to students who have reliable Internet at home.

There are also digital strategies to monitor student engagement beyond attendance, such as tracking how often students turn in assignments late, which will allow teachers to make better, data-informed instructional decisions, Simonsen said. These are the types of skills that those in teacher prep programs are learning right now, she continued.

“Distance learning is not a packet of worksheets, it’s not meant to be a digital babysitter. Distance learning is not a time to look for pre-produced or pre-canned learning solutions built by…Pearson or Kaplan or other corporate entities,” Schaaf said. Online learning can be very successful if only educators receive enough time and training to adapt, he emphasized.

But it will take a lot of time to master online learning, as there are 200,000 Maryland homes that lack Internet access right now, according to Allison Socol, a policy director at the Education Trust, a national nonprofit advocacy group that works to close opportunity gaps for students of color and students from low-income families. More than half of students in three Maryland school districts — Baltimore City and Garrett and Somerset counties — do not have Internet access, according to a survey by the Maryland Department of Education conducted in May.

The state should partner with Internet providers to expand connectivity for students and teachers, provide grants to help certain school districts facilitate virtual learning and require school systems to collect consistent data about student attendance and engagement on remote, hybrid and in-person learning models, Socol said.

“It’s very hard to solve problems if we don’t know they exist, and right now we actually know very little about what’s going on with remote learning across our state,” Socol said.

Some education stakeholders are also worried that distance learning cannot adequately replace the social learning that children usually experience through in-person interaction.

“Technology-based learning is neither socially nor developmentally appropriate for children of a young age,” said Timothy Stock, a parent of children in 4th and 6th grade.

Despite having advantages such as reliable Internet and working space, “the first and most heart-rending gap that virtual education represents is a lack of social development and an inability to recreate the social aspects of learning,” Stock said. He said his children “learn most from their peers and from the social process of engagement.”

“These are future learners whose experience in school is increasingly one of isolation, frustration, and endlessly confusing interfaces and logins,” Stock said.

The tug of war between returning students to classrooms and respecting teachers’ concerns about their health has continued to play out across the country, including in Maryland.

Del. April R. Rose (R-Carroll) stressed the importance of having teachers in classrooms, especially for special needs students. Over 300 teachers have already put in for leave, she said.

“I have great respect for the teaching profession…but we’re in a situation where we have kids that need to be taught, we’ve been dealing with this since March,” she said. “Whatever ways we can encourage teachers to come back and teach…we need to not make this some sort of battle because we’ve got kids who are really suffering.”

Del. Eric D. Ebersole (D-Howard), a retired high school math teacher, noted that teachers cannot be held to the same expectations as health care professionals. “It’s a false equivalence because the situation in the school is not nearly as controlled as it is in a hospital or doctor setting, and so we really have to honor the teachers and their safety,” he said.

By Elizabeth Shwe

Filed Under: Ed Homepage Tagged With: distance learning, Education, internet, training, virtual learning

Dorchester Voters Pick School Board Members; Kent, Talbot Races Unopposed

November 6, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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Voters in Dorchester, Talbot, and Kent counties elected candidates to 4-year terms on their county school boards.

Dorchester was the only county that had contested school board races.

In District 1, Mike D. Diaz defeated Phil Bramble to win a seat on the Dorchester County Board of Education. Diaz won 62% to 37%.

Susan Morgan ousted incumbent Philip W. Rice, the current school board president, in District 3, winning 68% to 31% for Rice.

Laura Hill Layton kept her District 5 seat, defeating Voncia L. Molock in a rematch of the 2016 election. Layton had 66% to 34% for Molock. In 2016, Layton won 73% to 27%.

In Talbot County, candidates for the three seats up for election ran unopposed.

Candace Henry won District 2, Susan Delean-Botkin was re-elected in District 5, and Mary Wheeler was re-elected in District 6.

In Kent County, Joe Goetz and Francoise Sullivan were unopposed in their bids for the two seats up for election.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ed Homepage Tagged With: board of education, dorchester county, election, Kent County, Talbot County, vote

QA’s School Board Names Janet Pauls as Acting Superintendent

October 31, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

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Janet Pauls, a retired longtime Queen Anne’s County educator, has been named acting superintendent of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools.

The Queen Anne’s County Board of Education made the announcement during its Oct. 28 work session.

Janet Pauls

Pauls will serve as acting superintendent until Dr. Andrea Kane returns from sick leave.

Pauls began her 43-year career in Queen Anne’s schools as a teacher at Stevensville Middle School in 1977 teaching 5th, 7th, and 8th grade.

Since then she has served as interim assistant superintendent, as well as teacher specialist, supervisor of instruction, principal at two schools, and program director of teacher leadership development.

She retired from QACPS in June 2020.

Pauls will attend her first school board meeting on Nov. 4.

Filed Under: Ed Homepage Tagged With: acting superintendent, andrea kane, janet pauls, queen anne's county, school board, schools, sick leave, superintendent

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