Tuesday, Nov. 5, 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.
Levering Field at The St. Paul’s Schools

Looking to sharpen your lacrosse skills with advice from IAAM championship players? St. Paul’s School for Girls will host a lacrosse clinic led by IAAM Coach of the Year Mary Gagnon for prospective students in grades 6 through 8. Following the clinic, participants and their families are invited to a conversation and Q&A with Coach Gagnon and varsity student-athletes from the 2024 IAAM “A” Conference championship lacrosse team.

By ADAM HUDACEK

Capital News Service

There’s a little-known conservative power player in the nation’s school board elections, and it has endorsed more candidates in Maryland than in any other state. 

The 1776 Project PAC, which says on its website that it supports “reform-minded conservatives who oppose political indoctrination and believe in parental rights,” has endorsed 19 Maryland school board candidates in nine of the state’s 24 school districts. The endorsements come as the state’s Democratic Party announces strategic targeting of 24 “extreme” conservative candidates.

This isn’t the 1776 Project PAC’s first foray into Maryland’s election. In 2022, the political action committee campaigned for at least three Maryland school board candidates, but not without incident. 

A year ago, the state prosecutor and the Maryland State Board of Elections fined the PAC more than $20,000 for its campaign practices during the 2022 school board elections. The fine stems from what the 1776 Project PAC did in November 2022, when it sent 13,879 text messages to Carroll County voters urging them to vote for certain candidates.

“Stop indoctrination in our schools, early voting has started [sic] vote for the pro-parent ticket for school board Tara Battaglia, James Miller and Steve Whisler,” one message read. Battaglia and Whisler won election to the school board.

In Maryland, the law requires campaign messages sent on behalf of candidates to record who paid for the information to be distributed, regardless of whether it is a yard sign, a pamphlet or a digital advertisement. The 1776 Project PAC text in 2022 lacked such a provision and therefore deserved to be sanctioned, said Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard in announcing the fine a year ago.

“Being able to identify the source of information for campaign material is essential to honesty and transparency in our electoral process,” Howard said . 

This year, the 1776 Project PAC has spent a total of $75,409.58 on 13 Maryland school board candidates across Cecil, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Calvert, Somerset and St. Mary’s counties. Other candidates endorsed by the group did not receive direct funding as of the latest campaign finance filing deadline.

The political action committee is the brainchild of former political consultant and journalist Ryan James Girdusky, who founded the organization in 2021. A letter from Girdusky on the PAC’s website explains that he was spurred to start the 1776 Project when his godson’s teacher read his class two books about police brutality and white privilege. 

“Progressive activists within our public education system were using their positions to indoctrinate children,” Girdusky wrote in the letter. 

“I created the 1776 Project to change public education by reforming school boards and electing reform-minded conservatives who wanted to improve public education in this country, he added.

The Maryland Democratic Party calls the 1776 Project PAC a “radical ring-wing group”, alongside the conservative parental rights organization Moms For Liberty, which successfully banned 21 books from public school libraries in Carroll County earlier this year. The involvement of the two organizations has prompted the state Democratic Party to invest directly in Maryland’s school board races, a move the party referred to as “unprecedented.” 

“The Maryland Democratic Party is committed to defending our students from the dangerous fringe agenda that extremist candidates and the far-right groups are hoping to bring to our state,” said Ken Ulman, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, in a press release. “We won’t allow radical activists dedicated to banning books and discriminating against students to take over our schools.”

In its X account bio, the 1776 Project PAC boasts that it has helped elect over 200 “un-woke,” or conservative, school board members since its founding. According to its website, the Project 1776 PAC has focused its endorsements on four states – Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona – after its successes in three Wisconsin races in April.

To date, the organization has endorsed six candidates in Tennessee, 15 in Florida and 17 in Arizona this election cycle.

The 1776 Project PAC did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the specifics of its policy proposals on school library regulation or preferred pronoun use in public schools. However, some of the candidates it endorsed – such as Elena Brewer of St. Mary’s County – did.

“My main priority is to promote excellence in education and not indoctrination,” Brewer said in response to a Local News Network questionnaire. “Our public schools should in no way become avenues for various special interest groups to promote their political agenda, such as radical gender theory, which attacks the children’s God-given identity and robs them of their innocence. I intend to promote age-appropriate teaching materials, stop the sexualization of children, and promote learning, and the building of character.”

On the 1776 Project PAC website, the organization writes that “biological sex is real and must be taken into account in schools” and that so-called “gender ideology” has been popularized among youth in recent years, something the 1776 Project PAC views as a threat against young girls.

On the topic of book bans, Girdusky stated  in a post on his X account that “the 1776 Project PAC does not take a position on which books are offered in school libraries.” He listed the organization’s priorities as fiscal transparency, improving academic standards, promoting classic education and patriotism, safe classrooms and parental involvement in public schools.

Specifically, the 1776 Project PAC opposes critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, stating on its website that they “subordinate the liberal arts to indoctrination.” 

That’s the kind of conservative agenda that some candidates want to stop.

“In recent years, I have become increasingly concerned with the politicization of public education,” Amanda Jozkowski, a Carroll County school board candidate who lost in 2022 and who is running again this year, said in response to the LNN questionnaire. “Decisions that impact our children should be driven by data, best practices and the needs of our students and educators – not by partisan agendas. I want to eliminate division and distraction and refocus the board’s efforts on what matters most: ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for life after graduation, whether that means college, career or other pursuits.”

Local News Network reporter Tolu Talabi contributed to this report.

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

The 110-acre, tree-lined Garrison Forest School campus gives students the space to explore, build, create and think. There are endless learning opportunities outside of the classroom! Younger students have access to several different playgrounds, and an innovative outdoor classroom offers students space to exercise—to climb and jump and also to imagine and pretend. This outdoor classroom features nature-based play structures, dirt and sand to dig and create, a garden and musical instruments.

The rolling campus includes state-of-the-art athletic fields, featuring a lighted turf field; an impressive equestrian complex that features riding and polo arenas, an outdoor riding ring and barns to house the many campus horses; bee hives that are maintained by the campus Bee Club—including honey that is extracted for community enjoyment; pollinator gardens; a dye garden used by art classes; and ample spaces to walk and explore. The academic buildings are designed to be modern, comfortable spaces to learn and collaborate. Each division—Preschool, Lower School, Middle School and Upper School—has a separate building to ensure each student’s needs are met as they move through their time at GFS. The arts building encourages creative, personal expression and houses several art rooms, concert and performance spaces and practice rooms. The Garland Theater hosts many performances throughout the year, including divisional programs, a Middle School play, two Upper School productions, dance performances and more.

The GFS campus center includes the Searle Athletic Center and Alumnae Hall, home to the dining hall. Within the Searle Athletic Center, students can run the raised track or use the workout room; it is also home to the dance studio and provides space for athletes to train and compete. Featuring natural lighting, the two-story library offers quiet meeting and study spaces and cozy nooks for reading. The boarding program, offered for grades 8-12, has four student dorms and 24 faculty residences, creating a homelike atmosphere for students joining GFS from across the country and around the world. Whether learning and exploring outdoors or finding your academic spark within one of the buildings, the Garrison Forest campus becomes an integral part of your overall educational journey.

Visit www.gfs.org.

This article is part of the 2024-2025 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.

An East Baltimore park has undergone a $3.6 million renovation, including upgrades to the playground, the addition of an outdoor classroom, and other updates.

Parks & People, a nonprofit working to improve and expand green spaces in Baltimore City, held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the grand opening of the renovated Cecil Community Park, located at Cecil Elementary School in East Baltimore Midway.

“Cecil Community Park is a beacon of what we can achieve when we invest in our youth and their education,” said Parks & People CEO Frank Lance in a statement. “Parks & People is committed to transforming our city, and Cecil Community Park stands as a testament to that mission. This park will not only offer a safe and fun space for children but will also provide a platform for educational programs, fostering a brighter future for our young generation.”

Spanning 1.5 acres, the project involved the complete renovation of the school’s park and playground spaces. The park also has a new outdoor classroom and raised garden beds, serving as “a hub for outdoor experiential learning, recreation, and community involvement,” according to a news release.

The park is intended to not only support the school community, but also the more than 2,000 residents who live within a quarter-mile radius of the space.

“This project embodies our commitment to building stronger, healthier neighborhoods through strategic investments in green spaces,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement. “Building better park and recreation spaces to ensure every Baltimorean has access to world-class facilities has been a cornerstone of my administration.”

Scott added, “Cecil Community Park is a shining example of how public-private partnerships can help create lasting, positive change in our communities. By transforming this space, we’re providing a safe, welcoming environment for families and children, improving the quality of life for residents, and fostering a sense of pride and ownership in the neighborhood. Projects like this show the power of collaboration in creating a better future for Baltimore.”

The renovated park is the product of collaboration among Parks & People, the Central Baltimore Partnership, The Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, and the East Baltimore Midway community.

Funding came from a mix of public and private sources, including The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Creating Cecil Community Park was the top priority for the Cecil Elementary School and East Baltimore Midway community,” said Ellen Janes, Executive Director of Central Baltimore Partnership. “Through a participatory process, they envisioned a welcoming space where the entire community could have fun and meet their health goals. This Park is a true community achievement, and we look forward to keeping it as vibrant and active as possible with sports leagues, classes, and a wide array of gatherings.”

This year, Parks & People celebrates its 40th anniversary. The organization has completed 48 park projects, which have reinvested $15.4 million in underserved communities and impacted approximately 109,000 residents, according to the news release from the nonprofit.

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has chosen Baltimore to host its annual conference, bringing together more than 1,500 minority architects from around the country for a five-day summit in Charm City.

The 12 local young architects organizing the conference will highlight the housing, entertainment, and community projects making Baltimore the unique and exciting city it is for learning, living, and exploring.

The annual meeting takes place from Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 and is sold out. NOMA is a 50-year-old organization with 25 chapters around the United States. Baltimore’s chapter began in 2017 with just five members and boasts over 100 members today.

In addition to attending sessions designed around the topics of design; technical; community and justice; business; and “Hey, Smalltimore!”, there will be numerous networking events held around the city and keynotes featuring esteemed and groundbreaking minority architects on topics as broad as bridging continents to focused topics like underserved communities in Baltimore.

“With over 45-chapter cities to choose from to host our national conference, we are excited to be in Baltimore to honor its place in design history as well as it’s emerging community-inspired design programs. It is in cities like these where we want to gather, exchange local ideas that can make a national impact, and lift up our mission and members,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Executive Director. “From the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture – designed by our former NOMA architecture colleague Philip Freelon, to the legacy of Morgan State University as the only Historically Black College and University in Maryland where we have an amazing student chapter, we are pleased to be here, engaged with the emerging design leadership in Charm City.” 

Some of the networking events include a private White House tour; a reception at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture (designed by Philip Freelon, a late NOMA member, after whom the professional design awards are named); a graduate fair expo with 70+ exhibitors; tours around Baltimore including the Baltimore Art Museum, Lexington Market, Camden Yards Sports Complex Stadium Tour, and more.

The NOMA Awards Banquet will be held on Friday to honor exceptional leadership, elevate NOMA members moving to the NOMA Council (NOMAC), and recognize award-winning work of NOMA professional and student members. These awards are sponsored by national architecture firms HDR, SOM and Stantec.

Over 80 firms applied to this year’s Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards. Baltimore is home to several buildings designed by Freelon and his firm, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) at Morgan State University, the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland with an accredited architecture program.

Melanie Ray, president of NOMA’s Baltimore chapter and the northeast university liaison for NOMA’s national board, spoke to Baltimore Fishbowl about some of the architectural design trends, their emphasis on design justice and accessibility, and what NOMA is doing to increase architecture studies to HBCUs nationwide.

Ray explained that attendees of the conference do not have to be members.

“We do have a lot of our conference attendees this year are either sponsors or allied professionals,” she said. “In some cases, they’re allied individuals who just support the mission of the organization to truly champion diversity within architecture and related professions.”

Since Ray sits on both the local and national boards of NOMA, she was able to speak to the organization’s involvement in HBCUs on both levels. Locally, NOMA partners with Morgan State University, since it has an architecture program (the student chapters are called NOMAS) and over 20 Morgan students are attending this year.

“We partner with them throughout the year,” Ray explained. “We co-host events with them. We invite them to our organization’s events. We do portfolio reviews. We really try to ensure that our NOMAS members have a direct connection to the professional community within Baltimore, so that when they graduate, they’ve got a job, they’ve got connections and mentorship.”

Beyond Morgan State University, NOMA has student chapters at all seven HBCUs that have architecture programs. NOMA has an HBCU professional development program that partners students with professionals for virtual membership opportunities. Additionally, this year, national president Pascale Sablan will visit all seven of the HBCUS with architecture programs.

Ray said NOMA approaches everything through the lens of design justice when it comes to accessibility, affordable housing, and planning. Since she does work in affordable housing, and those projects are federally funded, the emphasis is on universal design as the basis for all spaces. Universal design, according to the National League of Cities, “prioritizes usability by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialization.”

“There’s actually seven key features as it relates to universal design, and we’re seeing more and more jurisdictions incorporate this into their design requirements for new buildings,” Ray said. “We are seeing a heavier focus on designing spaces that accommodate everyone, without heavy adaptation or changes that often make people feel like these changes are inconveniencing other people or going above and beyond. But if you design spaces from the beginning to be accessible to all, then you don’t have to worry about that being an afterthought later.”

Speaking about justice, Ray exuded enthusiasm for kicking off the Baltimore NOMA conference at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. “It’s a really iconic building, from the outside, the graphics, even to the ‘Black History Matters’ letters that are on the front,” Ray said. “Just kind of really highlighting that as the keynote of the conference.”

Maryland education leaders are ushering in a new literacy plan meant to boost student success as part of the statewide shift to the science of reading.

At a board meeting Tuesday, 11 members voted in favor of adopting the fourth version of the policy, with only one member opposing the measure. In June, the original draft faced heavy criticism because of a section requiring schools to hold back struggling third-graders for a repeated school year.

Read more (and listen) at WYPR.

CALVERT SCHOOL

Tucked away within the quiet, tree-lined streets of Tuscany-Canterbury, Calvert School’s campus provides children ages 4 to 14 with a calm, secure space to grow amid an otherwise bustling world. Located on 16 acres convenient to Johns Hopkins University and I-83, the School balances beautiful green spaces with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure an enriching educational experience.

Serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, Calvert’s campus features two main academic buildings, three sports fields, outdoor learning spaces, and the modern Luetkemeyer Athletic Center.

Featuring 10 regulation squash courts, a fitness center, and a large indoor turfed field, the athletic center has quickly become a gathering place for Calvert families. The facility offers an ideal space for squash tournaments, co-curricular activities, summer camps, opening and closing exercises, and programs like the Calvert Flag Football League, which opens the School to the greater Baltimore community.

Across the street, Calvert’s Middle School features large classrooms, a black box theater, a spacious gymnasium, and two additional meeting spaces, the Atrium and the Assembly Hall. These areas become hubs for leadership programming, public speaking, and idea-sharing as the students grow into young leaders.

A short walk across campus sits the W.P. Carey ’42 Lower School, where students have access to two gymnasiums, a spacious art room, and a brightly lit library in addition to more than 27 classrooms. The building also contains the Kiddie Calvert early education center and the Luetkemeyer Planetarium, which is used in science classes to study the stars.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Calvert’s Lower School expanded to include two major additions, the Cordish Science Lab and Dunbar Music Room. Housed in an all-new multi-level wing, these additions provide specialized spaces for Calvert’s science and music curriculum, ensuring that students continue to succeed in both subjects. Submit an inquiry online at www.calvertschoolmd.org/inquire to learn more about Calvert School.

This article is part of the 2024-2025 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.

Calling all nature explorers! Friends School of Baltimore invites prospective pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade students and their families for a fun-filled morning at Friends to explore our native gardens, fields, and stream with our Lower School science teacher. Binoculars to search for insects and identify plants and flowers will be provided! Saturday, October 26, 2024, 10:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Friends School of Baltimore is a private, co-educational, Quaker school serving students in pre-k through 12th grade. As Baltimore’s first school, Friends has pioneered innovative teaching and learning since 1784. A Friends education emphasizes the mastery of essential skills required to succeed in the world – skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership. Friends School’s holistic approach to education allows students to explore and excel across a broad range of activities in academics, athletics, and arts. As a Quaker school, Friends is guided by the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, and a core belief that there is that of God in each person. Students are held to a high standard of personal conduct and challenged to model behaviors that build community and promote equality.

Join the Waldorf School of Baltimore on Sunday, November 17th, from 10 AM to 4 PM for a day of wonder and joy at the 36^th Annual Waldorf Fair!

Dive into a delightful array of “unplugged” activities that highlight the unique charm of Waldorf education. Experience the joy of jump-rope making, beeswax dipping, and candle rolling. Try your luck at the fishing game, enjoy captivating marionette shows, and sway to the sounds of live music!

Celebrated by Baltimore’s Child Magazine as one of the Best Family Events of the Year and highlighted in Baltimore Magazine’s “Must Do” Weekend Highlights, the Waldorf Fair is truly a celebration for all ages! More activities include Toddler Storytime, a photo booth, face painting, an immersive Faerie Grotto, and an instrument petting zoo provided by Stages Music Arts. Plus, there are multiple hands-on natural crafts waiting for you to explore!

The Waldorf Fair beautifully embodies the school’s educational values, grounded in a deep understanding of child development. Don’t miss the chance to browse our artisan vendor marketplace featuring over 30 stalls showcasing the unique handcrafted creations of local Baltimore artists and businesses.

Join us for a magical day that showcases an educational model inspiring children around the globe with the joy of lifelong learning since 1919.

Waldorf School of Baltimore is located at 4801 Tamarind Road. Entry is Free. Tickets required for some crafts and activities, these can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.wsbfair.com. For more information on the Waldorf School of Baltimore, please visit www.waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org

THE ST. PAUL’S SCHOOLS

Ask St. Paul’s students about their favorite place on campus, and you’ll hear a common refrain: the hill. Situated in the center of the sprawling 130-acre campus, the famed hill serves as a popular gathering place for students and faculty alike. The sweeping views over Greenspring Valley don’t hurt, either.

Beyond the hill, opportunities unfold across St. Paul’s campus. Students challenge themselves to try new things—whether reporting live on St. Paul’s Radio from two broadcasting booths, building a kinetic sculpture in one of three makerspaces, or learning to use a miter saw in the woodshop. Lower school students regularly take their learning outdoors with lessons in the Darrell Nature Pavilion and community garden, while budding scientists examine stream samples along the Carico Trail.

For student-artists, St. Paul’s campus encourages creativity with the Ward Center for the Arts’ 283-seat theater, as well as a black box theatre, two dance studios, visual and digital arts classrooms, and private music studios. Campus choral groups perform in the St. Paul’s Chapel, which also serves as a space for weekly community assemblies, guest speakers, and chapel services.

Student-athletes sprint and score across two turf fields, seven grass fields, 18 tennis courts, two performance gyms, and two practice gyms. The golf teams sharpen their strokes at LaPorte Hall, boasting three golf simulators and an indoor putting green, while squash players volley across four courts nearby. Blenckstone baseball field includes two brand new batting cages, and both SPSG and SP students utilize their own weight and training rooms for off-season workouts.

St. Paul’s opened a new, state-of-the-art boys’ upper school building in 2020, and is preparing to unveil an $18 million renovation and expansion of the girls’ school for the 2025-26 academic year. The 25,000 square foot project will add dynamic spaces—including two makerspaces, eight science classrooms, a computing studio, and health and wellness suite—that integrate technology, invite collaboration, and activate hands-on learning.

Visit www.stpaulsmd.org/campusviews to get a glimpse of the opportunities that await your child and register for an upcoming admissions event to discover the view for yourself.

This article is part of the 2024-2025 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.

Waldorf School of Baltimore

Cultivating out-of-the-box thinking requires unconventional teaching methods, and the Waldorf School of Baltimore vividly exemplifies this idea through a unique, arts-integrated, low-tech approach that sparks creativity and fosters long-lasting, deep engagement among students.

A hallmark of Waldorf education is the creation of Main Lesson books, meticulously crafted by students themselves. These books serve as physical manifestations of acquired knowledge and understanding, featuring intricate diagrams, vibrant illustrations, and detailed lesson summaries — a stark departure from the digital sharing and mass-produced worksheets often found in traditional education.

“I like that we don’t use computers unlike my other school; I am more engaged this way, and it just feels more real,” shares Liam, a seventh grader at Waldorf.

Teachers at Waldorf are dedicated to nurturing an inner enthusiasm for learning; an approach which eliminates the need for competitive testing and external rewards to motivate learning, fostering instead a capacity for the joyful, lifelong pursuit of knowledge and growth.

At Waldorf, students learn early and often that celebrating others’ success does not diminish their own achievements. As seventh grader Emily explains, “We learn not to compete with each other. Ms. Valencia encourages us to take pride in our own work and celebrate our friends’ accomplishments as well.”

For families seeking an educational environment that prioritizes creativity, fosters deep engagement, and values individual growth, the Waldorf School of Baltimore offers a distinctive, child-centered experience. It’s a place where learning is collaborative and meaningful, enabling students to thrive academically while also developing as compassionate individuals prepared to explore and discover their unique paths in life.

This article is part of the 2024-2025 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.

Garrison Forest School is well-known for its educational program for girls K-12; did you know the school is also home to a co-ed Preschool program for Twos through PreKindergarten and a daycare serving children ages 6 weeks through 2 years old?

The Daycare at Garrison Forest is a full-day, five-day program offering a loving environment for our youngest learners. Limited enrollment ensures meaningful one-on-one interactions, while a robust curriculum focuses on benchmarks and developmental goals while leaving plenty of time for fun, playing and exploring.

As children grow, the Preschool at Garrison Forest provides the same caring approach with a robust curriculum that focuses on early literacy, math and social-emotional skills. It’s the perfect place for children to explore the school’s 110-acre campus as they learn in a joyful environment.

Read more about these programs at gfs.org/younglearners.

St. Timothy’s School

Deepened by the intellectual richness and independent learning approach of the globally renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) program, St. Timothy’s School provides girls with a unique, challenging education where students are encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems. Located on a beautiful 145-acre campus in Stevenson, Maryland, students from around the world thrive in a community of inquiry, creativity, and kindness. Twelfth grader Kiera and tenth grader Ally share some of their favorite aspects of St. Timothy’s School.

Ally feels challenged and supported by dedicated teachers and advisors who offer individualized attention to ensure academic success. Ally shares, “Teachers are always willing to help students by providing unwavering support and the encouragement to ask questions, both in and out of the classroom. Not only is the quality of the education invaluable, but the globally diverse student body provides an extraordinary opportunity to build lifelong friendships. A school with diverse cultures and opinions leads to greater understanding and appreciation.” Ally encourages prospective students to consider St. Timothy’s for its global student body and dedicated teachers who nurture critical thinking and a profound love for learning.

Kiera expressed her appreciation for the many traditions, two-week Winterim learning experiences, and sports teams that foster a sense of community. “In addition to my academic pursuits, I participated on several varsity sports teams, and my favorite memory is our lacrosse team winning the IAAM conference championship. After school, I enjoy connecting with girls from different grades on the fields or courts and reaching our team goals together.” Kiera’s advice from her St. Timothy’s high school experience is to keep an open mind and try new things, which broadened her global perspective and created lasting friendships with students from around the world.

To learn more about St. Timothy’s School, visit their website, www. stt.org.

This article is part of the 2024-2025 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.

Coppin State University is creating a direct pipeline for teachers of color to work with students with disabilities in Baltimore City and Harford County — offering free tuition and one-on-one mentorship.

Project POSE and Project SEQUEL, funded by a $2.3 million investment from the U.S. Department of Education, will recruit 40 current school staff or community college students from the two local districts over the next five years.

After two years of classes, participants will graduate with their bachelors degrees in special education — and be matched with a personal mentor during their first year leading a classroom.

Read more at WYPR.

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) will begin rolling out its electric buses in early 2025, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Maryland Energy Administration.

The new buses running along the Homewood-Peabody-JHMI route will be all-electric and fully accessible, helping the university meet the transportation and mobility goals of its “Climate Action and Sustainability Plan”. The first five buses replacing the university’s diesel fleet will cost approximately $5.5 million.

Each bus will earn a $40,000 tax rebate from federal Inflation Reduction Act incentives. An additional five buses should be added to the fleet by early 2027, and by 2030, all newly purchased university vehicles will be electric.

JHU currently runs 12 diesel buses along the Homewood-Peabody-JHMI route — its most visible. It carries more than 3,000 riders per weekday. Replacing the fleet with 10 all-electric buses will eliminate 741 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year.

Since transportation accounts for 25% of Baltimore’s greenhouse gas emissions, reducing them is a core aspect of JHU’s commitment to action on climate and environmental justice.

The buses will arrive in November, so that they may undergo the necessary processes of inspections, securing insurance, creating charging stations, and training drivers on the new vehicles in time for an early 2025 roll-out.

Up to 33 riders will be able to be seated around the perimeter of the bus facing the center, and up to 60 people can ride when some stand. The buses have mechanical lifts to give riders in wheelchairs easy access to the shuttle, and once inside, they will be able to use a self-operating locking system to hold their wheelchair in place when the bus is in motion.

The route runs from 6 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and has limited weekend service.

The JHU transportation team has worked closely with its counterparts in Baltimore City, which has a pilot program with electric buses, and at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where they have an electric bus program up and running. The introduction of the new electric shuttle buses at JHU are the culmination of years of planning on the part of Greg Smith, director of transportation services, and his team.