For the first time in Dorchester County history Dorchester County Public Schools can now say they have schools that have been awarded the Maryland Green School designation through the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education’s (MAEOE) Maryland Green Schools Program. In order to receive this honor, schools have to demonstrate their commitment to connecting students to nature and empowering students to make progress towards environmental sustainability.
Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman, Supervisor of Science, Health, Physical Education, and Environmental Literacy, crafted an action plan to lay out the steps to start having our schools go through the Maryland Green Schools certification process. Dr. Turner-Coleman had this to say, “We have such a strong environmental literacy continuum in the Dorchester County Public School system that it was time to put what we already do in an application. I am beyond proud of the teachers, students, and leadership at Choptank Elementary School; North Dorchester Middle School; and South Dorchester School. It does my heart proud that for the first time in Dorchester County history, we have not one, not two, but three schools receiving this prestigious designation on their first try.”
This enormous accomplishment would not be possible without the support and guidance of Suzanne Sullivan and Morgan Buchanan at ShoreRivers. ShoreRivers is a recognized Maryland Green Center which is in place to steer schools through the application process.
To the community, please join the school system in congratulating the following Green Team members from Choptank Elementary School, North Dorchester Middle School, and South Dorchester School.
· Choptank Elementary School Green Team: Gabrielle Blades, Whitney Jump, John Kahl
· North Dorchester Middle School Green Team: Regan Joachimowski, Jolene South, Alexis Tucker
· South Dorchester School Green Team: Jessica Hall, Karen Ruark, Jessica Suggs
We are looking forward to the schools receiving their official Maryland Green School flags and plaques.