EASTON — On Monday evening, Talbot County’s chapter of Moms for Liberty, a nationwide conservative political organization, held a meeting with Sharon Pepukayi, superintendent of Talbot County Public Schools, and other district professionals. During this meeting, attendees shared their concerns about the state of education in Talbot County, including low math scores, and student cell phone use. Jan Greenhawk, chapter chair for Moms for Liberty, expressed gratitude for the attendance of the district representatives, including Debbie Gardner, director of communications for Talbot County Public Schools; Helga Einhorn, assistant superintendent for school leadership and Student Success; and Zulieka Jarmon-Horsey, assistant superintendent of administrative services, systems and strategies. “Y’all don’t realize what a privilege it is to have a superintendent and a school board and her staff that will come in and talk to your group and answer questions,” Greenhawk said. “Believe me when I say that because I have friends who are chapter chairs on the western shore. That does not happen.” Greenhawk noted there may be times “we disagree, and that’s okay, but we can talk through issues.” During the meeting, Pepukayi shared news of a research-based math and English language arts curriculums that will be implemented in schools. In addition to the new curriculum, the county has added some positions to help, such as math coaches. According to Pepukayi, while these changes are important, it is essential to roll it out slowly so as to not overwhelm teachers. Pepukayi’s emphasis on changes to the math curriculum comes after an anonymous countywide postcard was mailed to county residents criticizing Talbot County Public Schools. The 14-by-8.5-inch, two-sided post cards were sent out to the residents of Talbot County last week. The flyers included a screenshot from the U.S. News & World Report’s web page on the district’s finances, and on the other side it shared that Talbot County student’s math proficiency stands 17.2% below the state average. Shari Wilcoxon, an attendee of the meeting, expressed concern over the postcards that were sent to residents. However she told representatives in the meeting that there will be “multiple other ones coming out.” The following morning, a second round of similar postcards arrived in residents’ mailboxes. Instead of addressing math scores, this postcard addressed English proficiency, stating that 59% of students in third through eighth grade are not proficient in English. CELL PHONE USEDuring the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, several attendees asked for the district’s overall stance on student cell phone usage during school hours. Pepukayi shared the district’s policy on cell phone usage may be different from what is practiced in the classroom. Pepukayi said the district is piloting a new program called YONDER as a way to limit cell phone usage in the classroom. “It’s a cell phone pouch, and what it is is a student comes into school, they put their cell phone in this pouch, and it locks,” Pepukayi said. According to Pepukayi, the pouches will stay with the students and will be locked all day until they leave and press the pouch up against a magnet, which will allow them access to their cell phones. Pepukayi said the roll out of the pouches have not begun yet. The district would need to communicate the plan with families and have a board presentation on it. The draft plan is to start rollout after Thanksgiving. Robert Jurrius, a math teacher at Easton Middle School, said it is difficult for students to stay off their cell phones, but it is made worse by parents who text their kids during school hours. “I’m going to say with all authority that I can muster, (parents) need to break that addiction that you have to be able to reach a child every time anything occurs,” Jurrius said. Toward the end of the meeting, Pepukayi said it was important for her to take the time to talk to community groups and hear their concerns. It falls under the district’s theme of “transforming and performing together.” “I’m a big proponent of people knowing the facts, and number two, making sure we’re partnering with anyone who wants to help our Talbot County Public students be successful,” Pepukayi said. “And so whatever that looks like, we’ll partner and we’ll talk about the issues.”
EASTON — On Monday evening, Talbot County’s chapter of Moms for Liberty, a nationwide conservative political organization, held a meeting with Sharon Pepukayi, superintendent of Talbot County Public Schools, and other district professionals.
During this meeting, attendees shared their concerns about the state of education in Talbot County, including low math scores, and student cell phone use.
Jan Greenhawk, chapter chair for Moms for Liberty, expressed gratitude for the attendance of the district representatives, including Debbie Gardner, director of communications for Talbot County Public Schools; Helga Einhorn, assistant superintendent for school leadership and Student Success; and Vulieka Jarmon-Horsey, assistant superintendent of administrative services, systems and strategies.
“Y’all don’t realize what a privilege it is to have a superintendent and a school board and her staff that will come in and talk to your group and answer questions,” Greenhawk said. “Believe me when I say that because I have friends who are chapter chairs on the western shore. That does not happen.”
Greenhawk noted there may be times “we disagree, and that’s okay, but we can talk through issues.”
During the meeting, Pepukayi shared news of a research-based math and English language arts curriculums that will be implemented in schools.
In addition to the new curriculum, the county has added some positions to help, such as math coaches. According to Pepukayi, while these changes are important, it is essential to roll it out slowly so as to not overwhelm teachers.
Pepukayi’s emphasis on changes to the math curriculum comes after an anonymous countywide postcard was mailed to county residents criticizing Talbot County Public Schools.
The 14-by-8.5-inch, two-sided post cards were sent out to the residents of Talbot County last week. The flyers included a screenshot from the U.S. News & World Report’s web page on the district’s finances, and on the other side it shared that Talbot County student’s math proficiency stands 17.2% below the state average.
Shari Wilcoxon, an attendee of the meeting, expressed concern over the postcards that were sent to residents. However she told representatives in the meeting that there will be “multiple other ones coming out.”
The following morning, a second round of similar postcards arrived in residents’ mailboxes. Instead of addressing math scores, this postcard addressed English proficiency, stating that 59% of students in third through eighth grade are not proficient in English.
CELL PHONE USEDuring the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, several attendees asked for the district’s overall stance on student cell phone usage during school hours. Pepukayi shared the district’s policy on cell phone usage may be different from what is practiced in the classroom.
Pepukayi said the district is piloting a new program called YONDER as a way to limit cell phone usage in the classroom.
“It’s a cell phone pouch, and what it is is a student comes into school, they put their cell phone in this pouch, and it locks,” Pepukayi said.
According to Pepukayi, the pouches will stay with the students and will be locked all day until they leave and press the pouch up against a magnet, which will allow them access to their cell phones.
Pepukayi said the roll out of the pouches have not begun yet. The district would need to communicate the plan with families and have a board presentation on it. The draft plan is to start rollout after Thanksgiving.
Robert Jurrius, a math teacher at Easton Middle School, said it is difficult for students to stay off their cell phones, but it is made worse by parents who text their kids during school hours.
“I’m going to say with all authority that I can muster, (parents) need to break that addiction that you have to be able to reach a child every time anything occurs,” Jurrius said.
Toward the end of the meeting, Pepukayi said it was important for her to take the time to talk to community groups and hear their concerns. It falls under the district’s theme of “transforming and performing together.”
“I’m a big proponent of people knowing the facts, and number two, making sure we’re partnering with anyone who wants to help our Talbot County Public students be successful,” Pepukayi said. “And so whatever that looks like, we’ll partner and we’ll talk about the issues.”
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