🎨✨ September 14–21, 2025 is National Arts in Education Week in Maryland!
This week celebrates the transformative power of the arts in our schools — building creativity, confidence, critical thinking, and community. Arts education isn’t a luxury — it’s an essential part of a well-rounded education and a fundamental right for every student.
SCPS is proud to champion equitable access to music, visual arts, dance, and theatre programs across our schools, uplifting student voices and preparing them for success in school, career, and life.
Let’s honor the educators, students, and communities who keep the arts alive and thriving! 💡🎶🎭🖌️
#ArtsEdWeek #ArtsInEducation #MDPublicSchools
The Somerset County Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting virtually on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 4:30pm - closed session, 6:00pm - open session.
Watch live on the SCBOE Virtual Board Meeting YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BoardMeetingSCPS
Public comments should be emailed to: boardmeeting@somerset.k12.md.us
🌟 It’s Coordinator Appreciation Week! 🌟(Sept 15 - 19, 2025)
This week, we celebrate our amazing Community School Liaisons and the incredible impact they make for our students, families, and staff.
From building strong community partnerships to connecting families with essential resources, they are the bridge between home, school, and community. 💙
A special shoutout to our Concentration of Poverty Coordinator, Dr. Bell-Jackson, for her outstanding leadership and guidance — and to our dedicated liaisons:
📍 Dr. Miller (PAES)
📍 Mrs. Smiley (GES)
📍 Mr. Holden (WAHS)
📍 Mrs. O’Hara (SIS)
📍 Ms. Allen (WES)
📍 Mr. Taylor (CAHS)
👏 Thank you for everything you do to support Somerset County Public Schools!
Join us for an engaging evening of dialogue and updates at the Superintendent's upcoming community engagement forums: "Community Connections & Conversations" — formerly the Somerset County Parent Advisory Committee (CPAC), now open to all families, caregivers, staff and community members! The first event will be held next month:
📅 Thursday, October 16, 2025
📍 Washington Academy & High School
🕕 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Come hear directly from the Superintendent and Central Office supervisors as they share system-wide updates and respond to your questions. The event will also include focus group-style activities to gather your input on key priorities for our schools.
Let’s build stronger schools together — your voice matters!
Today we welcomed students beginning their first day at new schools for the 2025–2026 school year 🎒📚.
We were also honored to host members of the Maryland State Board of Education — Dr. Joshua Michael and Mr. Chet Chesterfield — along with Dr. Tenette Smith, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer with MSDE’s Office of Teaching and Learning.
Their visit included stops at Somerset Intermediate School, Washington Academy & High School, and Greenwood Elementary, where they connected with students, staff, and school leaders. 💙💛
#SCPS #SteppingIntoExcellence #BackToSchool2025
🎉 Welcome Back, SCPS Students, Families & Staff! 🎉
Superintendent Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell shares important reminders to help students start the 2025-2026 school year strong, highlighting ways families can support their students and prepare for a successful year ahead.
View the message here: https://youtu.be/aUehNGpiskA?si=-ZhUGOoEL8gMT9GS
Join us for our Back to School Block Party this Thursday, August 28 from 12–6 PM at the Somerset BOE! 🎉
🍔 Free Food, 🎶 music, 🎪 vendors & family fun—all while our schools host Open Houses (2:30–6 PM). 🚍 Shuttle buses will run from PAES, GES, WHS, CHS & WES Open Houses to the Block Party.
📍 Somerset Board of Education — don’t miss it!
Emergency Board Meeting CANCELLED
Tonight’s meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 5:30 PM has been cancelled. A new date will be posted soon. Thank you for your understanding.
✨ Opening Meeting 2025–2026 ✨
SCPS kicked off the new school year at Washington High School this morning with energy, inspiration, and a united vision for success! 🎉
🎶 The Washington High School Marching Band set the tone with an incredible performance to open the meeting — thank you for bringing the spirit to our celebration! 💙🤍
🎤 Special thanks to our speakers:
• Tracie Bartemy, Director of Schools
• Christina South, HR Director
• Maryland Senator Mary Beth Carozza
• Kristen Bratcher, 2025–2026 Somerset Teacher of the Year
• Crisfield High School senior TyLia Lane
• Superintendent Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell
• Tina Greenwood, Supervisor of Mentoring & Professional Learning
💡 Like a lighthouse guiding ships through turbulent waters, Dr. Tasker-Mitchell is empowering us to navigate forward together — grounded in our call to Serve. Build. Belong.
🌱 Right after the Opening Meeting, our staff heads into the Professional Learning Conference with the theme “Bloom Where You Are Planted” — reminding us that growth and excellence begin right where we stand.
👏 Thank you to every SCPS staff member for your dedication to our students. Here’s to a Small but Mighty year of Stepping into Excellence!
#ServeBuildBelong #SteppingIntoExcellence #SmallButMighty #BackToSchoolSCPS #BloomWhereYouArePlanted
Yesterday, every SCPS school bus underwent its annual Class B inspection to get ready for the 2025–2026 school year. Safety is our top priority, and these thorough inspections help ensure that when your child steps on the bus each morning, they are in good hands. 💛
Here’s to a school year filled with safe rides, friendly drivers, and peace of mind for our families. 💫
#SafeAndSound #TeamSCPS #BackToSchool
At the August 19, 2025 Board of Education meeting, we proudly introduced our new student voices and welcomed a newly appointed Board member:
Amara Hankerson – Student Board Representative, Washington Academy & High School
Trenton Brittingham – Student Board Representative, Crisfield Academy & High School
Jason Elliott – Alternate Student Board Representative, Washington Academy & High School
🗳️ Also, please welcome Mr. John Robertson, newly appointed Board of Education Member (District 5), who joined the Board for his first meeting last night.
👏 Join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders as they help shape the future of SCPS!
#StudentVoice #TeamSCPS #Leadership #SomersetStrong
Our educators recently dove into The Science of Learning—exploring how the brain actually learns so they can design more effective, engaging, and lasting learning experiences for every student. They’re eager to bring these research-backed strategies into their classrooms to inspire and support every learner.
#ScienceOfLearning #TeacherTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment #Education #LifelongLearners #BrainBasedLearning #EdChat #GrowthMindset
Join us for our Back-to-School Block Party & Community Resource Fair on Thursday, August 28 from 12–6 PM at the Somerset County Board of Education in Westover!
🎶 Music, games, family fun, and community resources — plus shuttle service from your child’s Open House!
📍 Don’t miss this exciting kickoff to the 2025–2026 school year!
#ReadySetSchool #SCPSBackToSchool #SomersetSchools
Join us for our Back-to-School Block Party & Community Resource Fair on Thursday, August 28 from 12–6 PM at the Somerset County Board of Education in Westover!
🎶 Music, games, family fun, and community resources — plus shuttle service from your child’s Open House!
📍 Don’t miss this exciting kickoff to the 2025–2026 school year!
#ReadySetSchool #SCPSBackToSchool #SomersetSchools
