ROCK HALL — The last Kent County Board of Education meeting for the 2024-25 academic year was an occasion for celebration.
At their June 9 meeting, board members acknowledged the pending retirements of longtime staff members, the achievements of student athletes, the continuing work of their student member and more.
Tyray Johnson, Title I family liaison at Kent County Middle School, led off the evening by presenting Kent County High School Principal Kris Hemstetter with an award from ASSE International Student Exchange Programs.
In 2024-25, KCHS hosted exchange students from Taiwan, Thailand and Canada.
Johnson, whose family has hosted exchange students for the past three years, said Kent County High School and the school system have graciously welcomed international students.
Johnson read letters to Hemstetter from this year’s exchange students, showing their appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of Kent County High School.
“Thank you so much for letting me be an exchange student at Kent County High School,” Johnson read from one of the letters. “I had a wonderful year. I’m so glad I decided to come here.”
Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion celebrated the 17 Kent County Public Schools teachers and staff members who retired this year.
“It gives me great pleasure this evening to honor a number of staff who have dedicated, collectively, hundreds of years of service to students here in our school system,” Hushion said.
The retirees were called up one by one to receive well wishes from board members and Superintendent Mary McComas. Also, Director of Teaching and Learning Gina Jachimowicz presented each with a special gift commemorating their service to the school system and its students.
While the June meeting usually marks another departure, that of the student member of the board, this year saw the announcement that Alden Swanson will continue in her post.
A rising senior at Kent County High School, Swanson is the first student member of the Kent County Board of Education to serve a second one-year term after being re-elected by her classmates this spring.
“Keep doing the good work that you’re doing,” McComas told Swanson.
Jachimowicz announced that Galena Elementary School and Rock Hall Elementary School completed the rigorous 24-month accreditation process for their Judy Center Early Learning Hubs.
H.H. Garnet Elementary School’s Judy Center previously earned accreditation.
“It requires the whole process of self-appraisal. It requires the schools to come up with a school improvement plan,” Jachimowicz said of the accreditation program.
She said the plans are reviewed and site visits with observations are conducted as well.
“After that extensive process, both Galena Elementary School and Rock Hall Elementary School achieved accreditation status,” Jachimowicz announced.
Board of education members congratulated the Judy Center teams from Galena and Rock Hall on their success.
To keep up with the latest news from Kent County Public Schools, see https://www.kent.k12.md.us.
Trish McGee, owner and publisher of The Evening Enterprise, is president of the Kent County Board of Education. She did not contribute to this report.
