Dorchester County Public Schools -

From teacher to teaching colleague: Ms. Cherie Robinson, who leads the Teacher Academy of Maryland program at Dorchester Career and Technology Center, has welcomed two 2020 completers of the program back into a Dorchester County Public Schools classroom – this time not as students, but as teaching colleagues! Ms. Kyla Diggs is teaching Reading and Language Arts (RELA) to 8th graders at Mace’s Lane Middle School, while former classmate Ms. Olivia Gisriel is right next door at Choptank Elementary School with her classroom of 1st graders. How did the TAM program help them reach their goals of becoming teachers? Ms. Diggs said, “When I was in college, I would text Ms. Robinson anytime something came up that I was doing in college that I had already learned with her – especially edTPA!” (edTPA is an assessment system used by college-level teacher preparation programs.) “It (edTPA) mirrored, almost identically, the portfolios we built as seniors in high school . . . I feel I have a unique ‘advantage’, having been a teacher since I was 17-years-old!” Ms. Gisriel agrees about the advantages of being a TAM graduate: “I felt I was able to begin the program (at Salisbury University) with experiences from TAM both in my internship and throughout my methods courses . . . Ms. Cherie Robinson has been my biggest cheerleader and has supported me in every way she can . . . I am FOREVER grateful for the TAM program and Ms. Robinson . . .” Thank you, Ms. Robinson and TAM, for helping these enthusiastic new teachers realize their dreams of returning to help other Dorchester County youngsters achieve their dreams! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

There’s no tired quite like end-of-first-week-of-school tired. Friends, we hope you're resting up this weekend because the good news is we get to do it all again next week, together! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It wasn’t just our students and staff who returned to school this week! Meet Shark, Snookie, and GoldieHawn, who live at Warwick Elementary School. After a relaxing vacation this summer hanging out with new friends at the luxurious Villa Albert resort, Warwick staff member Ms. Barbara Albert got them back to their home just in time for opening day. Although Snookie may be feeling a little sad for the end of summer break, they all agree – it’s going to be a great year! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Say hello to some of the faces of the Classes of 2039, 2038, and 2037, who had their first day of school in PreK-3, PreK-4, and Kindergarten throughout Dorchester County today! Finally, the gang’s all here! <3 It’s going to be a great year! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

And, they’re off! Yes, the Dorchester County school year officially began this morning with students in grades 1 through 5, 6, and 9 leading the way! Here are scenes from two of our schools - the new high school freshmen being welcomed to C-SD by the cheer team, reps from the Student Government Association, and (surprise!) their former 8th grade teachers and 1st through 5th graders being greeted at Maple Elementary School. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades to join them, and on Thursday PreK and kindergarten will complete the DCPS 2024-2025 student body! It's going to be a great year! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It isn’t called the Student Benefit Form for nothing! The more DCPS parents who complete this form for their families, the more DCPS students will benefit! Data gathered from this form leads to benefits such as more funding to support instruction, student services, and programs like Community Schools, tutoring, free meals for students, funding for laptops, and scholarship opportunities for our youngsters. The funding is there – let’s bring it home to our kids in Dorchester County! Head on over to the DCPS website at www.dcps.k12.md.us, scroll down to the form and complete it for your family! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

All Dorchester County Public Schools facilities are closed on Monday, September 2, 2024 for the Labor Day holiday! A reminder - we look forward to welcoming students in Grades 1-5, 6, and 9 to school on Tuesday, September 3, to be joined by Grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 on Wednesday, September 4, and Pre-K and Kindergarten on Thursday, September 5. It’s going to be a great year! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

We’re looking at 1,095 years of serving the children and families of Dorchester County! Congratulations and thank you to the Dorchester County Public Schools staff who have recently been recognized for reaching service milestones! 45 years: Susie Price and Peter Singleton 40 years: Donna Warren 30 years: Kathy Robinson, Bonnie Vogel, and Karlene Walker 25 years: Wendy Bowens, Kimberly Castle, Scott Dodson, Jessica Gaull, Cindy Houghtaling, Janelle Koski, Sean Reincke, Karen Ruark, Sherry Todd, and Mary Jane Willey 20 years: Angela Ausmussen, James Bailey, Joyce Berry, Marcellus Dockins, Kristin Guesfierd, Nancy Harrington, Tammie McCarter, Heather Powell, Rachel Pritchett, Patricia Prosser, Tanisha Robinson, Jolene South, Stacey Stanley, Wendy Sylvestri, Mary Windsor, and Charlene Zinnel 15 years: Jason Beauchamp, Vonzella Thomas, and Kaylen Trice 10 years: Crystal Bergling, Emma Brant, LaChoya Brummell, Scott Bunting, Clara Burton, Dr. Michael Collins, Camilla “Goldy” Cooper, Megan Day, Jennifer Filipovic, Valerie Friedel, Monique Giddens, Joetta Green, Donald Grenadier, Charles Johnson, Albert Jones, Katelyn Koch, Christy Miller, Jonathan Miller, Jennifer Parrigin, Abby Pluta, Jennifer Powell, Jordan Robbins, Tiana Robinson, Kathryn Scarpati, Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman, and Adam Wilson #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

In her last official event as the Dorchester County Teacher of the Year 2023-2024, Ms. Briana Beulah was part of the Maryland Teachers of the Year group being celebrated by the Baltimore Orioles last weekend. As the Birds have been in a bit of a funk lately, it was rumored that Ms. Beulah was offered a try-out with them, but she declined as she is forever loyal to the Sandy Hill Bees. However, we thank the Orioles for recognizing Ms. Beulah and the importance of the teaching profession! Go O’s! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It was a combination of reuniting with old friends, being introduced to new ones, and getting a preview of what the school year is going to look like. Yes, yesterday was Back to School Open House in our schools. It’s going to be a great year! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Before we completely close the books on the 23-24 school year, we need to say a big “wowza!” to this special 2nd grade team at Hurlock Elementary School who won the 2024 Stars of the Banner award in the “Best Teacher” category! Congratulations to Lauren Howell, Valerie Bromwell, Amy Stoops, and Billie Ganong for this cool recognition! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Dorchester County Public Schools families, here’s an opportunity to help your child’s school! Head over to the DCPS website at www.dcps.k12.md.us, scroll down to the Student Benefits Form, and complete it for your family! The information from this form means increased funding to support instruction, student services, and programs like Community Schools, tutoring, and free meals for our students. It means increased technology funding for laptops and internet access, more scholarship opportunities for DCPS students, and even discounted fees associated with the college application process. Join us in investing in the future of our children and community by being sure to complete the Student Benefits Form for your family! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

There was a buzz in the air as the Bee Bus hit the road again last Friday, making stops in the neighborhoods served by Sandy Hill Elementary School! Various goodies were distributed to kiddos, and both staff and students were excited to see each other again after the summer break. Remember: grades 1 through 5 are back to school next Tuesday, September 3, with PreK-3, PreK-4, and Kindergarten following on Thursday, September 5! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

One of the great perks of being selected Dorchester County Public Schools Teacher of the Year is a new set of wheels to use, and here is Katelyn Blair, 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, receiving a Honda HR-V! Once again, we welcomed Mike McCauley, General Manager of Hertrich Honda of Easton, to our back-to-school kickoff event on Friday to make the big delivery. A big THANK YOU to Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships for their long-standing support of the Teacher of the Year program at DCPS! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

What has 1600 eyes (some in the backs of their heads, it is said), a roar that can be heard in Baltimore, and a heart for kids as big as Dorchester County? It’s the entire staff of Dorchester County Public Schools when gathered, as happened today for the annual kickoff of the 2024-2025 school year! It was a morning of greeting work buddies, celebrating each other, a little impromptu dancing, and learning the importance of the number 15 – IYKYK! Thank you to keynote speaker Dr. J.T. Taylor of Purpose Pushers in Chesapeake, Virginia for helping us spark a transformation! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

These people are, in many ways, the faces of Dorchester County Public Schools – our office administrative professionals. Theirs are the voices you hear when calling the school, the faces you see when you arrive at the school office, and the hands that ensure the forgotten book or lunch or permission slip gets to the right place. Today they got together for a session of professional development in preparation for the new school year and were visited by Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson (there he is, in the back), who, as a former teacher and principal, knows how crucial their roles are to the smooth running of a school. Thanks for all you do for our schools, families, and kiddos! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! Dorchester County Public Schools will hold Open Houses for students and their families on Thursday, August 29. Middle and high schools will be open from 2:00 to 4:00, with elementary schools open from 3:00 to 5:00. This is a chance to meet your child’s teacher(s) and school administrative team, see classrooms, find out their new bus schedule, and more. School teams look forward to saying hello! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It's not just our new teachers who are busy learning new things! Principals, Assistant Principals, experienced teachers, instructional coaches, and even the Superintendent have taken part in professional development sessions this past week. Here is one, learning about math – not how to do it, but how to improve instruction. The goal, always: the very best instruction for our kiddos! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Thank you, Dorchester County business community, for ensuring our new teachers feel the love! The Dorchester Chamber of Commerce has, for several years, coordinated contributions to goodie bags for each new teacher to introduce newcomers to the County and thank all of them for their commitment to our students. We are grateful to the Chamber of Commerce members along with Bill Christopher, Robin Burton, and Thornette Lee for their huge effort with this. Mowbray’s Garden Center added to the fun with some gorgeous plants, used to decorate the venue before being adopted to good homes with our new staff. Dorchester County, this is what community looks like! <3 #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Our new DCPS teachers have turned students for this week, as they meet with content supervisors for training on curriculum and other helpful information related to their life in a DCPS classroom. We’re so glad you’re here! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15