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May 8, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Mid-Shore Education: A Chat with Gunston’s John Lewis on AI in the Classroom, Centreville and Growth

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Giving credit where credit is due, it was John Lewis, the Head of School at The Gunston School, who gave the Spy the first idea that Artificial intelligence was a real thing almost two years ago. Joined by graduating senior Damian Rene in early 2023, John outlined how AI was starting to appear in the classroom. Unlike many educators then, he noted how he and his fellow teachers at a private day school in Centreville embraced its use.

With all that in mind, the Spy thought it would be interesting to receive an update from Lewis on how Gunston has adopted its use on our annual check-in with the headmaster.  In addition, the Spy also talks to John about the school’s relationship with Centreville and how far Gunston can grow as the population of the Mid-Shore continues to increase.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about the Gunston School please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Deadline Today: Support Appeal to State for Middle School Cost Share Alteration

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Today, Monday, March 18, is the last day to contact the Maryland General Assembly to send a letter of support for the bill requesting the State alter its School Construction Local Cost Share for the much-needed new Middle School in Chestertown, and we have a way to help you (see below).The new structure would be built on the current 15-acre campus.

Kent County Middle School, which serves students in sixth through eighth grades, is in dire need of replacement. The school, which opened in 1950 and was last renovated in 1976, no longer meets modern educational standards. Routine maintenance is no longer sufficient, and even the roof requires millions of dollars to replace.

Under the current funding formula, the community faces a daunting local share of over $45 million for the construction, a heavy burden for a population of around 20,000. Compounding this financial strain is the high poverty rate among students, with all five schools in the district providing free breakfast and lunch to every student under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision.

HB0365/SB0110 proposes a solution tailored to specific circumstances, such as Kent County’s, where the local share is adjusted based on criteria including the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, participation in the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, and being the sole school of its type in the county. This adjustment would bring the local share more in line with state averages, making the project financially feasible for Kent County.

A letter by Kent County Board of Education President Joe Goetz outlines the request.:

“Dear Chairman Barnes and members of the Appropriations Committee,

I am writing you today because our community is in urgent need of your support for House Bill 0365/Senate Bill 0110: School Construction – Local Cost-Share – Alterations. Passage of this bill is necessary for our rural community to receive the additional state support for we need new school construction.

Our community has one middle school serving all students in sixth through eighth grades. Kent County Middle School, located in our county seat of Chestertown, opened in 1950, was expanded four times between 1952 and 1976, and was last fully renovated in 1976. At nearly 75 years old, the building no longer meets the needs and standards of today’s middle schools, nor can it be serviced through routine maintenance. Replacement of the roof alone would require millions of dollars.

Our community simply cannot afford the financial burden of new school construction with the state contributing only 50% of the eligible costs. Under the current funding formula, we are looking at a local share of more than $45 million for a community with a total population of around 20,000 people. Add to that the fact that the poverty rate among our student population is such that all five of our schools receive the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision providing free breakfast and lunch to every student.

That is why we are calling on you to support passage of HB0365/SB0110 in the General Assembly and deliver it to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for signature.

HB0365/SB0110 is narrowly tailored to fit very select circumstances for applicability to school construction projects. It takes a school system such as ours that currently qualifies for only a 50/50 split on eligible project costs with the state, then shifts the state share based on the following:

  • The percentage of students in the county eligible for free or reduced price meals is greater than the statewide average of students eligible for free or reduced price meals;
  • All schools in the county participate in the S. Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision;
  • The eligible project is a school that is the only elementary, middle or high school in the county.

By meeting all of those requirements, a qualifying school construction project would see the local cost share reduced to equal the average of counties in which all schools in the county participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision, with the state cost share increasing respectively.

This is not the first time a proposal to adjust the school construction cost share has been approved. The Built to Learn Act of 2020, approved in 2021 via General Assembly override of then-Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, included a cost share shift that benefitted Garrett County Public Schools. It increased the state’s cost share of 50% to 89% based, like HB0365/SB0110, on a specifically focused set of requirements for the shift.

The Kent County Board of Education is asking for a similar amendment to make our middle school construction project possible. Kent County has not built a new school in nearly 50 years. Today, our community simply does not have the financial resources to build the new school we absolutely need to serve our students in those crucial middle­ grade years of their education.

The General Assembly and the State of Maryland have made the successful education of students a cornerstone of public policy through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. HB0365/SB0110 is part of that drive by helping Kent County Public Schools build a new middle school that meets today’s educational standards and gives our students the chance of success they so deserve.”

For more background and to write an email letter of support of this Local Cost-Share Alteration, go to the SOS (Save Our School) page, here

 

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Rhodes Challenges Board Policy For Members Visiting Schools without Notice

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During the January 8 meeting of Kent County Board of Education, Board member Frank Rhodes expressed his desire for unrestricted access to schools by board members without adhering to the current policy of a two-day notice. Rhodes cited the need for immediate intervention if disruptions or issues arise.

“The superintendent runs the schools, but we are above the superintendent when it comes to managing and the people from Kent County that voted us in want us to really have checks and balances about what’s going on in the schools,” Rhodes said.

Dr. Karen Couch, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, emphasized the importance of coordination with school leaders to avoid disruptions during crucial activities.

Rhodes recounted an incident at a middle school where he received a tip about disruptions, visited the school unannounced. Dr. Couch clarified that she was already addressing the situation, and Rhodes’ uncoordinated visit disrupted the school’s routine.

“The problem that I saw with you coming into the school, is the principal had no idea you were there, you came in and talk to the school resource officer who wasn’t even an employee of the school system. So, I think there has to be some checks and balances so that we can all work together as a team and build trust,” Dr. Couch said.

The debate continued with Rhodes arguing for board members’ authority to enter schools at will, asserting their responsibility to constituents. Fellow board member Francois Sullivan disagreed, stating individual board members lack authority over school administrators.

Joseph Goetz, president of the Board of Education, offered the last opinion saying, “I do not have an issue with the two day (policy). I would rather they focus on the educational side. We’re small enough to know that if there’s smoke, there’s probably a fire burning. And in my experience, every time I’ve smelled smoke or seen smoke, the fire is there, and it’s already being addressed in a one form or fashion.”

The issue was not put to a vote, leaving it open for further discussion in subsequent meetings.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Kent County Schools Superintendent Dr. Couch Announces Retirement

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In a closed session of the Kent County Board of Education, Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch announced her decision to retire, effective June 30, 2024. The retirement was subsequently approved in the personnel report. The Spy captured her statement which she read during the public segment of the meeting.

During her almost eleven-year tenure, Dr. Couch highlighted organizational improvements and a commitment to addressing the diverse needs of students.

Achievements include pioneering universal full-day pre-K, expanding Judy early learning centers, implementing the blueprint plan, and investing in teacher training for the science of reading and Orton Gillingham methodologies. These initiatives propelled students toward proficiency in reading and mathematics.

Additionally, a comprehensive facilities Strategic Plan revitalized educational facilities, enhancing security, upgrading athletic facilities, and replacing HVAC systems.

Dr. Couch emphasized that the true measure of success lies in the students’ achievements, growth, and readiness for the future.

As Dr. Couch begins a new chapter, she expresses confidence in the district’s ability to continue nurturing and inspiring students. She reflected that her legacy is not in programs or facilities but in the lives touched.

This video is approximately four minutes in length.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning Expanding to Summer

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For the first time, the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) will be offering summer programming, starting at the end of May. Organizers hope the new classes and simpler enrollment options will introduce the opportunities through WC-ALL to a broader audience.

There are two courses, one in-person and one online, and a number of single session learning opportunities, all of them free for WC-ALL members, but with a new option for non-members to pay per course as a way to try out what WC-ALL offers.

The changes come as Washington College is making new efforts to expand WC-ALL and engage members of Chestertown and surrounding Eastern Shore communities with the College. In a simple but important step, one of the summer opportunities is a campus tour, free to both WC-ALL members and non-members. Shane Brill, the lifelong learning and communications coordinator running WC-ALL at Washington, will lead 90-minute tours of campus on three different dates during the summer.

“We’re hosting summer campus tours to introduce people to the College and invite them to return for fun learning experiences,” Brill said. “Then individuals can sample WC-ALL with affordable a la carte programs, and our streamlined fee structure makes the benefits of annual membership accessible.”

The two courses this summer are A Short Guide to Trees and Tree Identification (in-person in June) and Why We Meditate: The Science and Practice of Clarity and Compassion (online in July). There are also two lectures as part of the summer programming: WC-ALL Table Talks presents Fabulous Fearsome Fentanyl with retired cardiologist Ray Vergne and Learn@Lunch! Averting Armageddon on the Fourth of July: The story of the Kargil War in 1999 with former advisor to four U.S. presidents and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution Bruce Riedel.

Vice Chair of the WC-ALL Council Jeff Coomer will be teaching the tree course and is working closely with Brill to increase WC-ALL engagement. Coomer is a Washington College alumnus, chairs the WC-ALL Curriculum Committee, and has taught a number of courses on Buddhism, Stoicism, and poetry.

“We’re hoping this summer’s courses and talks will be just the beginning of a new range of offerings aimed at introducing more people to the joy of lifelong learning that’s at the heart of WC-ALL,” Coomer said. “I’ve designed the course I’ll be teaching on trees to be both informative and fun for the people taking it.”

Register for WC-ALL summer courses here:

The potential for deeper engagement with WC-ALL extends beyond this summer, of course. WC-ALL courses are taught by experts from both the College and the community, like Coomer, and proposals for courses are being accepted through June 15.

“As WC-ALL expands its on-campus and virtual offerings, we’re searching for instructors to join our ranks,” Brill said. “We invite individuals with expertise and passion for a subject to consider submitting a course proposal for the fall semester.”

Fall will feature two six-week sessions, mostly with four to six classes meeting once per week at 4:15 p.m. Interested instructors can submit a course proposal at washcoll.edu/wc-all-proposal.

To learn more about the fall offerings once they are selected, potential students can attend WC-ALL’s Showcase of Fall Courses from 3 to 5 p.m. on July 20. Registration for the fall will open on that date.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Town Council Watch: WC Director of Civic Engagement Explains New Role

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Washington College recently appointed Pat Nugent as its new Director of Civic Engagement. The appointment highlights the institution’s dedication to fostering strong relationships between the college, its students, and the surrounding community.

During Monday night’s meeting, Nugent introduced his new role to the town council, saying that his priority is to support students, staff, and faculty in building collaborations with community partners and striving for a healthier and more sustainable Chestertown.

Nugent believes such opportunities are win-win situations, providing real learning experiences for students and benefiting community partners. These partners include numerous non-profits, local businesses, and even the town council.

As part of his role, Nugent is open to feedback from community partners to ensure that the partnerships are not only serving the students’ learning experience but also genuinely helping the community. He hopes to work closely with the town to explore ways to make Chestertown’s democracy more robust, participatory, and inclusive.

“I love the idea of partnering with the town to enhance Chestertown’s democracy and make it more robust, participatory, and inclusive. We could collaborate on research around voting rates or any other measure that could help us gauge the robustness of a small town’s democracy. This could be a great opportunity for us to think through this question in the long run,” he said.

The director envisions partnering on research projects related to voting rights and increasing voting rates in small rural towns. He disputes the notion that Chestertown is “in the middle of nowhere,” instead arguing that the town’s size and location provide students with unique opportunities to make a real impact.

Washington College students have already found themselves in positions of influence, serving on the boards of local non-profits and working closely with town officials. Nugent’s appointment is expected to further expand these opportunities for students, making the relationship between the college and the town even stronger.

The new Director is also keen to involve faculty in these community engagement initiatives. The college already boasts strong connections between faculty and community organizations, such as collaborations with local education and sociology departments on projects like literacy education and housing surveys.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Kent County Public Schools Attack the School-to-Prison Pipeline

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For decades, Black male youths have experienced serious achievement gaps in nationwide public schools, a trend that contributes to high young Black men’s permanent unemployment and incarceration rates. 

Often called “the school-to-prison pipeline,” Black juveniles are frequently subject to the blunt force of court referrals to discipline kids and throw them into a perpetual cycle of the juvenile correction system. The message becomes, “you don’t matter; we don’t see you.”

While Kent schools don’t follow State and national trends for law enforcement interventions and suspensions, last year’s student assessment showed that “Black boys were being sent to the principal or having parent conferences called at higher rates than other groups.”

The reasons for this achievement gap are many, including lack of social, emotional, and behavioral support, an absence of Black male teachers, and no clear policy to address the disparities in the educational experience of Black male students.

In May of 2021, the Maryland Board of Education came up with a strategic plan to counter the achievement gaps in Maryland schools: Transforming the Culture of Maryland’s Schools for Black Boys, for Maryland educators while also initiating “The Task Force on Achieving Academic Equity and Excellence for Black Boys (AAEEBB),” a study group who sought “national and local best practices to inform actionable recommendations and solutions to any potential barriers.

These studies resulted in the creation of a pilot program offered to Maryland counties that wanted to participate. Currently, 14 county pilot programs are part of the initiative, including Kent Middle School and High School.

Organized initially by Dr. Angela Holocker, coordinator of student services for Kent County Public Schools and interim principal at Kent Middle School, Kent schools are fully implementing the grant-funded program and have partnered with Minary’s Dream Alliance along with mentors Harold Somerville and Antoine Reed Sr., both of whom participated in last year’s Kent mentoring program funded by the AAEEBB grant.

Currently, about 36 students at KCHS and Middle School are enrolled in the program.

The coordination between Kent school pilot programs and Minary’s Dream Alliance is a natural fit. Their missions overlap, each fostering a positive academic experience to counter the historical disparities Black males experience in education by providing mentorships, study hall areas, book club activities and other shared events.

The Spy recently attended one of the KCHS mentoring meetings where Paul Tue, Harold Somerville, Antoine Reid Sr., Tilise Brown, and student Jamarcus Downs talked about the program, passed out books, discussed Black history, and prepared for an AAEEBB convention in Baltimore in April, complete with session measuring the boys for suits for the occasion.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more about the Transforming the Culture of Maryland’s Schools for Black Boys initiative, please go here.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Dixon Group Announces Scholarships

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Each school year the Dixon Group awards scholarships to local Maryland High schools to seniors.  One scholarship is awarded to one senior from each school – Kent County High School, Queen Anne’s County High School and Kent Island High School.

The scholarships for KCHS and QACHS are awarded by Dixon Valve and Coupling Company.  The scholarship for KIHS is awarded by KRM Development.  Both companies are part of The Dixon Group.

A successful applicant must complete a scholarship application which includes a high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores, if required, and submit a two-page essay on how they incorporate one of the Six Pillars of Character Counts! in their daily life.  They must also submit two letters of recommendation and a copy of their degree program or acceptance letter stating their major.

A scholarship in the amount of $2000 is awarded to the most qualified applicant who is pursuing a degree in the Business, Engineering or Education field.

The 2022 winners are

Myona Moore – KCHS – accepting her Dixon scholarship from Taylor Goodall, President of The Dixon Group, will be attending UMBC to study Accounting/Business Management.

Ashlyn Conley – QACHS – will be attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland to study Business Administration.  Ashlyn is accepting her Dixon scholarship from Taylor Goodall, President of The Dixon Group.

Brooke Barba – KIHS will be attending the University of South Carolina to study Mathematics.  Brooke is accepting her KRM scholarship check from Jesse Parks, President of KRM Development.

Congratulations to these deserving seniors and congratulations to the Class of 2022.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Former St. Michaels High School Grad to become New Talbot County Superintendent of Schools

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With a unanimous vote at the May 18, 2022 meeting, the Talbot County Board of Education  appointed Dr. Sharon Pepukayi as the new Talbot County Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2022, pending finalization of the contract and approval of the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Mohammed Choudhury.  

Dr. Sharon Pepukayi

“The Board was very pleased with the high quality of the 18 applicants for the position of Superintendent of Talbot County Public Schools,” said Susan Delean-Botkin, Board President. 

“Dr. Pepukayi stood out with her excellent credentials, outstanding leadership, stakeholder support and local knowledge.  The Board is very pleased to welcome Dr. Pepukayi to Talbot County Public Schools. 

Dr. Pepukayi is currently an assistant superintendent for the Appoquinimink School District. As an educator for 30 years, Dr. Pepukayi has served in numerous roles including student advisor, mentor, reading coach, teacher, assistant principal, and principal prior to moving to district administration. It is while spending time in classrooms, that she recognized the need to keep students at the forefront of her decision making. Her passion for students is undeniable and she loves to talk with them about their educational journeys. 

Dr. Pepukayi is a collaborator and believes in unleashing the talents of others. She has worked tirelessly to develop leaders and promote equity and diversity efforts in her district. In addition, she helped with the expansion efforts as the district enrollment increased to over 3,000 during her tenure. This included opening new educational facilities, expansion of preschool and bilingual programming, and promoting student excellence within the community. 

Being no stranger to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Dr. Pepukayi graduated from St. Michaels High School, then pursued her post-secondary education in North Carolina, Ohio, and Delaware. She credits her parents for instilling her love of teaching and learning. Her mother is a retired teacher, and her father is a retired waterman, businessman, and former school board member. Dr. Pepukayi earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Bennett College, Master of Arts in Early and Middle Childhood Education from Ohio State University, and a Doctor of Education in Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington University. She is a member of many educational organizations, and a charter member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has also provided training and presented at several national conferences. 

In her free time, Dr. Pepukayi enjoys being around the water, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is the proud parent of two sons.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Chesapeake College Gets a Second Wind after the COVID years: A Chat with President Cliff Coppersmith

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The last time the Spy had a check-in with Chesapeake College president Cliff Coppersmith in the spring of 2021, there were far too many unknowns for the CEO of one of the best community colleges in the state as he faced year two of the great COVID pandemic.

In almost every part of Cliff’s portfolio, there were more questions than answers about the college’s future as the school saw a dramatic decline in students, unprecedented budget challenges, confusion on how much state funding his institution was to receive, or whether or not Chesapeake could access COVID recovery funding from the federal government.

Like every other school in the country, COVID has created enough havoc for Chesapeake College’s students, faculty, and staff over the last two years that even its president couldn’t responsibility guess what its future held at the time.

Fast-forward to 2022, and Dr. Coppersmith has almost become a new man. Since our last conversation, the state has come through for its community colleges with an unprecedented 15.1% increase in operational support. And, yes, fed money for COVID recovery did arrive with the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), and just as importantly, the five counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot all agreed to a 3% increase in annual support.

Cliff also notes that during those uncertain months, his board of trustees and staff double-downed on private fundraising and government grant-seeking to create new revenue sources to help with the college’s bottom line with outstanding early results.

But the thing that puts a smile on President Coppersmith is that students are coming back to the classroom. In fact, the school should be able to report soon that enrollment will almost reach its pre-pandemic level.

Last week, the Spy sat down with Cliff Coppersmith at his office in Wye Mills to hear more.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about Chesapeake College please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.