Andrew
Niebler of Montgomery County this month was named statewide winner of the
eighth annual Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Awards (PIMA) program.
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Niebler,
a volunteer at Westland Middle School, developed the Westland Cares program,
designed to help students and their families gain stability by providing goods
and services to those in need. It has
the added effect of helping them feel welcome in their community. Westland Cares began as a holiday card-giving
effort but quickly expanded to include a food and household item pantry, a
holiday gift-giving and wrapping program, scholarships for afterschool
activities, book fair certificates, and more.
“Andrew
has never looked for a quick fix …it has always been about neighbors connecting
with neighbors,” said Alison Serino, principal of Westland Middle.
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“A secondary gift of Andrew’s work with
Westland Cares is the consciousness he has raised with other families. He calls on neighbors to help, and they do
not disappoint.”
Niebler
was selected among the five finalists announced at the gala awards ceremony at
Martin’s West. The finalists were
narrowed down from a list of 24 semifinalists announced earlier this month. The other finalists were:
• Joseph Cline, Holly Hall Elementary
School, Cecil County
• June McClosky, Southern Garrett High
School, Garrett County
• Sharmella Riggs, Leonardtown High
School, St. Mary’s County
• Stephanie Truitt-Drimal, Cedar Chapel
Special School, Worcester County
“Parents
and other volunteers make an important difference in the success of our
students," said Governor Larry Hogan.
"I would like to congratulate all of the finalists for their
continued involvement and significant contributions to Maryland’s students,
schools and communities.”
State
Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery noted that parent involvement is
critical to Maryland’s educational success.
“Andrew
Niebler saw a need, filled it, and then found new ways to improve that
initiative,” Dr. Lowery said.
“Strong
parental involvement strengthens our classrooms and schools, and Andrew never
stops working to make Westland Middle better for students and the community.
His commitment inspires us all.”
PIMA is the
nation’s first and only statewide award program of its kind, honoring parents
and guardians for their critical work.
The PIMA Program recognizes parents from local school systems across the
State of Maryland, nominated for their contributions in one or more of the five
areas of parental involvement:
Communication; Volunteering; Learning; Decision Making; and Community
Collaboration.
Many of
the honorees from previous years have become parent involvement advocates on
the statewide level – serving as members of task forces, presenters at
statewide meetings, and participants in education conventions as well as focus
groups.
The PIMA
Program is supported by: Martin’s West, BGE, Comcast, Rudolph’s Office and
Computer Supply, Maryland PTA, Cullins Trucking, Inc., Harvest Enterprises,
Inc., The Mid Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc., and Target.
The
Maryland State Board of Education last week approved two State exams that can
be used by local systems to assess a student’s college and career readiness by
the end of 11th grade.
The
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) tests in
algebra II and English 11 can be used by Maryland school systems next school
year for college and career ready determination. Systems also may opt to use
the SAT, ACT, Accuplacer or other assessments.
The
Maryland College and Career-Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013 requires that all
juniors be assessed on their readiness for college or career. If a test
determines that there are some deficiencies, the student may be enrolled in a
transition course or experience during their senior year.
State
Board members also recommended some additional PARCC developed tests that
school systems have the option to use.
In addition to Algebra II and English 11, there are new PARCC exams in
English 9 and Geometry. None of these
assessments are required, and students do not need to pass them for graduation.
 State Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery
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Summer is here, but the learning
doesn’t stop. Maryland again this year
is offering a diverse selection of high-level programs targeting many of our
State’s top students.
The 2015 Maryland Summer Centers
Program, which began last week, continues a 48-year commitment at the State
level to provide summer educational opportunities for Maryland’s gifted and
talented students. The program, coordinated through the Maryland State
Department of Education, in partnership with public and nonpublic agencies,
provides Maryland’s diverse gifted and talented student population with
advanced, rigorous, experiential learning opportunities that nurture these
students’ talents and abilities within unique learning environments. Nine
centers are being held this summer.
Among this year’s centers is a new
one, currently taking place at Baltimore City Community College. The Center for Biotechnology and Forensic
Science allows students to follow evidence, perform DNA analysis and solve a
variety of mysteries just like the professionals. The nonresidential program for students in
grades 8-9 will use a state-of-the-art laboratory environment for learning
fundamental biotechnology and forensic science techniques. This new center is funded by the Baltimore
City Community College.
More about the Maryland Summer
Center program can be found here.
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Teachers also are students again
this year, as the regional Maryland College and Career Readiness Conferences
have been taking place since June 18.
The conferences are designed to
ensure that educators are supported in their professional learning needs for
implementing the State’s more rigorous standards. More than 3,000 educators are taking part in
the two-day conferences, which run through July 9.
Additional information about the
Maryland College and Career Readiness Conferences can be found here.
2015 PIMA Awards Night
June 5, 2015
Montgomery County's Andrew Niebler wins the 2015 Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Award. See the winning announcement at Martin's West, and learn about the other finalists, at the gala that celebrates the two dozen parents from all Maryland jurisdictions.
 MSDE Video Highlights: 2015 PIMA Awards Night, June 5, 2015
2015 PIMA Finalists and Winner Videos
Andrew Niebler Westland Middle School, Montgomery County
Joseph Cline Holly Hall Elementary School, Cecil County
June McClosky Southern Garrett High School, Garrett County
Sharmella Riggs Leonardtown High School, St. Mary’s County
Stephanie Truitt-Drimal Cedar Chapel Special School, Worcester County
June 28 - July 1 - Maryland Municipal
League Convention, Ocean City
July 28 - Maryland State Board of Education meeting, Baltimore
Maryland Officials Gather to Address School Safety WBAL-TV
School Organization Provides Food Security Montgomery Gazette
Editorial: Yes, There is Such a Thing as Free Lunch Salisbury Daily Times
Moten Elementary Volunteer Wins Carroll County’s PIMA Award Carroll County Times
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