Dear Talbot County Community,

We would like to address the recent mailers that have been distributed to homes throughout our community.  This campaign unfairly targets our schools, students, and dedicated TCPS educators. Our team does face challenges like many school districts, and we face them directly and with transparency.  While we do not want to give life to these messages you are receiving, we want to make sure our community knows the truth.

• We are working to improve our performance on state assessments. With support from the Talbot County Council, we have made significant investments, including acquiring new rigorous standards-based curricula and hiring and retaining qualified teachers and administrators. Additionally, we have made math one of our priorities and are putting concentrated efforts into the teaching and learning of this curricular area. We also know that student success is measured by many indicators in addition to state assessment scores.

• While we know we have work to do, there is growth we can celebrate. The 23-24 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment (MCAP) results showed modest improvement across all MD Districts. In Talbot County, our overall margin of progress was slightly greater than what the State achieved.  In English/Language Arts (ELA), out of the 24 school districts, Talbot County Public Schools had the greatest increase in students being proficient. These results inform our continued work on the initiatives put in place to provide our educators with the resources needed to ensure student success.

• We adhere to the Health Education Standards set forth by the Maryland Department of Education. Maryland state law requires that parents/guardians be notified about topics covered in the Family Life unit. They have the option of having their student excused if they are uncomfortable with this content being taught to their students by TCPS educators.

• Our Talbot County students graduate from our high schools and continue to excel in college, career, and life.  This is a result of their hard work, the commitment of the TCPS team, the leadership of the Board of Education, and the support of the County Council and our many community partners.

• Our support staff,  teachers, and administrators are dedicated professionals who deserve our trust and support. By collaborating openly and constructively, we can ensure that our school system remains a beacon of opportunity and excellence for every child, regardless of their background.

We invite the community to our established public forums scheduled each month through our regular Board of Education meetings. These meetings are open to all citizens, and  we encourage everyone to attend and participate in these sessions. Only through collaboration and communication do we truly provide the best opportunities for our students.

We are honored to serve as Talbot County’s Superintendent of Schools, and President of the Board of Education and we are very proud of our students and
staff. We believe in and will continue to advocate for TCPS students, families, and our highly driven team of educators. WE ARE TCPS, and we are committed to Transforming and Performing TOGETHER.  

If you have questions or concerns, please email us at info@talbotschools.org. We are here for you and all of the children of Talbot County.  Thank you for your continued support.