OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH! 

Through visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student, principals guide and support their schools in ways large and small every day. And as we faced new challenges presented by COVID-19, our principals came through when it mattered most. National Principals Month is our way of honoring their dedication and thanking them for all they’ve done.  Through nationwide efforts at local, state, and federal levels; evidence-based research initiatives; and appreciation events of every size, National Principals Month seeks to honor our principals for their significant impact on the success and well-being of our nation’s students.  And this is no small-scale occurrence: our event has made its way to the Senate and House of Representatives to officially recognize October as National Principals Month. Send an e-Card to your favorite principal (Including a colleague!)

October is also cybersecurity awareness month

In partnership with Maryland Codes and Maryland Center for Computing Education, MAESP is excited to share two fantastic computer science opportunities!  Please mark your calendars and plan to participate in these two computer science events coming up soon:

Computer Science Mini Summit on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 from 4-6 pm and Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 4-6 pm. 

This Summit will be virtual, so wear your most comfortable clothes and settle in to enjoy learning from your colleagues from across Maryland.  Topics will include distance learning, equity, cybersecurity, careers in computing, and many other intriguing ideas and exciting initiatives in computer science.  Please find the agenda attached and register for free here.

MAESP is pleased to invite every elementary school in Maryland to participate in National Family Code Nights, a free live-stream family learning event for any K-5 school.  Even when in-person school gatherings may be impossible, any K-5 school community can share this wonderful learning experience, in which each K-5 child pairs up with a parent or other older partner to do their very first hour of coding, together!  No experience needed! 

It’s great fun, proven in thousands of schools nationwide, and now provided via a live-stream to any school.  Schools just select their date at CSisElementary.org, and distribute a provided invitation to families.  That’s it!  Family members, teachers and educators then join the live-stream from home or school to enjoy an important, delightful experience.  A live prize drawing for a Home Robotics Bundle from Wonder Workshop will be featured at each National Family Code Night.  So visit CSisElementary.org, pick the date you want your school community to attend, and give your school community a learning experience they’ll love and value.

Want to learn more?  Check out this short video.

 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2020 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND:

Jacksonville Elementary School, Baltimore County, Principal Debra Miller, MAESP Member

Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School, Montgomery County, Principal Christine Troffkin, MAESP Member

Bayside Elementary School, Queen Anne’s County, Principal Louisa Welch, MAESP Member

Cash Valley Elementary School, Allegany County, Principal Lisa Stevenson, MAESP Member

Hampstead Elementary School, Carroll County, Principal, Principal Arlene Moore

Mount View Middle School, Howard County, Principal Lynnette Moore

serving maesp through naesp...thank you!

NAESP NATIONAL COVID-19 DATA

NAESP along with NASSP, AASA (The School Superintendents Association) and Brown University have launched a new COVID in the schools mapping project.  Principals who opt in agree to share 'anonymous' data in a biweekly survey on whether COVID cases of staff and/or students have occurred in their schools.  The data will feed into summary information in the public dashboard, but won't show the cases at the individual's school level.

The National COVID-19 School Response Dashboard initiative was motivated by the need for better data on COVID-19 in schools during this time of reopenings and varied models of instruction.  The key is to keep students and staff safe.   To protect privacy, any publicly posted data will be identified only at the county level.  Additionally, participating schools will be provided with feedback illustrating the data from their schools along with comparison data from other schools.  

A press release on NPR on September 23rd may be found here.  Registration and a survey link may be found here.  

Check out the real time dashboard!

MAESP is an affilate of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). 

                Links to additional state affiliates are located at NAESP State Affiliates.

BECOME A MAESP  BUSINESS ASSOCIATE MEMBER:  Check it out here!

OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:

 American College of Education

   Check out their PPE Products - Hygiene Barriers and TQR "Temporary Quarantine Rooms"

 Resources for Educators and Families

Thank You Sponsors!

MABE: Maryland ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION

• MABE Monitor - State Board of Education Highlights

Maryland State Board of Education Updates

• Check out the latest State Board of Education Meeting and Minutes