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Superintendent highlights awards, apprenticeships, scholarships and spring athletics
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Smith summarized recent district achievements, including national recognitions for arts and music education, a growing apprenticeship program, scholarship totals, and upcoming commencements and state athletic competitions.
Dr. Smith, superintendent of Saint Mary's County Public Schools, opened the meeting with a progress update highlighting recent district achievements in arts, career and technical education, student support, and athletics.
Dr. Smith noted that the district was recognized for the fourth consecutive year as a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association for Music Merchants and named a premier community for theater education by the Educational Theatre Association. He also pointed to the Chesapeake Public Charter School’s third-grade opera and broad visual-arts participation across the district.
Since the board last met, the district hosted the Saint Mary's County Mental Health and Wellness Fair at the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center with more than 50 community vendors, over 30 volunteers and about 375 guests — roughly three times prior attendance. The superintendent reported 92 student art entries and keynote presentations at the event and described plans to continue the fair as a community resource.
Dr. Smith described the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center’s apprenticeship program (AMP Recognition), noting the program includes paid apprenticeships of 450 hours and that employers and community partners — including the Patuxent Partnership and on-base partners — are increasing opportunities leading to full-time employment.
He also recapped the Becca scholarship ceremony where the district awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships and praised partnerships that support student opportunities. On athletics, Dr. Smith highlighted state-qualifying performers from Great Mills, Chopticon and Leonardtown high schools and noted upcoming state-level meets at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex and Prince George's Stadium in Bowie.
Dr. Smith closed by outlining the end-of-school schedule — last day for students on June 11 and last day for teachers on June 13 — and reminded attendees that commencements would be livestreamed in HD on the district website.
