November 5th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
On Wednesday, the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Allegany! Class of 2021 participated in the program’s annual Education Day co-hosted by the Allegany County Public Schools, Allegany College of Maryland, and Frostburg State University. The day’s theme was “Providing Education and Job Training During COVID-19 and Beyond.”
The class began their day at Allegany College of Maryland, where they had the opportunity to hear from a panel and subsequent question and answer session with the ACPS Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Kim Kalbaugh; Dr. Kurt Hoffman, ACM Senior Vice President of Instructional and Student Affairs; and Dr. Michael Mathias, FSU Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Leadership Allegany’s! Education Day continued at ACM as the class learned about Continuing Education and Workforce Development from Mr. Jeff Kirk, Dean of CE and Workforce Development. Autumn Becker, Director of Western Maryland IT Center of Excellence; Christa Snyder, Coordinator of Health and Human Services; Melanie Chapman, Director of Adult Basic Education; and David Smarik Coordinator of AP 220 Outreach, spoke to the group about workforce development training during COVID-19. Before departing ACM, the Leadership Allegany! Class participated in a leadership development activity led by Mr. Chandler Sagal, Grants and Development Associate, followed by a virtual program and student perspective on education and student services during the pandemic conducted by Tara DeVore, Director of Pathways for Success, and other ACM student participants.
Next, Leadership Allegany’s! Education Day continued at Frostburg State University. Their visit there began with a video from Allegany County Public Schools that showcased how the school system is providing high quality pre-k to Grade 12 education during COVID-19 and some of the challenges and opportunities staff and students are facing. After the video, a panel of ACPS staff and administrators joined the group for a virtual question and answer session. Members of this panel included: Dr. Kim Kalbaugh, ACPS Chief Academic Officer; Dr. George Brown, Supervisor of Professional Learning, New Teacher Induction, and Secondary Social Studies; Dr. Molly Stewart, principal at Braddock Middle School; Mrs. Katie Buskirk, Secondary Supervisor of English Language Arts; Mr. Joe Brewer, Supervisor of Career and Technical Education; Mrs. Jackie Enright, Supervisor of Early Childhood Programs, Supervisor of Elementary Reading and Chinese Immersion Programs; Mrs. Tracey Leonard, Supervisor of Athletics, Health, and PE; and Mrs. Debbie Metheny, Supervisor of Student Services and Special Education.
The group continued Education Day with a welcome from FSU President, Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk followed by a student panel moderated by Dr. Jeff Graham, Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, discussing FSU’s response to the pandemic and the challenges and opportunities it poses for higher education. The day concluded at FSU with a presentation from Dr. Rita Thomas, Instructional Design and Technology Manager about blended coursework and design and delivery.
Members of the Leadership Allegany! Education Day 2020 Organizing Committee were David Jones, Vice President of Advancement and Community Relations at ACM; Mia Cross, Public Information Officer for ACPS; and Dr. Jeff Graham, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at FSU.
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