July 2021
Dear Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) families and community members:
I am honored to serve as the new Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools. In my first few weeks as Superintendent, I have had the pleasure of meeting with central office staff and visiting several schools. I witnessed first-hand students learning and engaged in our Summer Boost program led by enthusiastic and caring staff. At the same time, central office and school staff are feverishly working to ensure our schools are ready in August to welcome students back for the new school year.
As I make my way throughout the county, I want to share with you some of my priorities as Superintendent. First is to ensure all schools and centers are ready to welcome students and staff back to in-person learning next month. Another priority is to visit with school communities to actively listen and learn from staff, parents, students and community members. Lastly, will be to evaluate learning expectations for students through the review of programs and systems in place that look at how students are doing, what they are learning and what they need in order to achieve. This includes a deep dive into our staffs’ capacity building opportunities and how they support student learning.
I believe that all students have limitless potential. Schools are places to nurture their development and provide each one of them with the skills and knowledge they need to be ready for their next big step in life after graduation. To do this well, we must provide equitable learning opportunities for every student – acknowledging, respecting and celebrating their unique attributes.
I am proud to join a community of educators that is committed to the learning and achievement of each of the 27,000 young people across every one of our schooIs. I am eager to work alongside staff and our community to realize this commitment for every student. Let’s build on the many accomplishments of Charles County Public Schools and work together to ensure all students are prepared for their future.
Sincerely,
Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Charles County Public Schools
Julio 2021
Estimadas familias y miembros de la comunidad de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Charles (CCPS):
Es un honor ser la nueva Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Charles (CCPS). En mis primeras semanas como Superintendente, he tenido el placer de reunirme con el personal de la oficina central y visitar varias escuelas. He sido testigo de primera mano de como los estudiantes aprenden y participan en nuestro programa de “Summer Boost” (Clases de Refuerzo de Verano) dirigido por un personal entusiasta y atento. Al mismo tiempo, la oficina central y el personal de las escuelas están trabajando arduamente para asegurar que nuestras escuelas estén listas en agosto para dar la bienvenida a los estudiantes para el nuevo año escolar.
A medida que avanzo en mis funciones, quiero compartir con ustedes algunas de mis prioridades como Superintendente. La primera es asegurar que todas las escuelas y centros estén listos para dar la bienvenida a los estudiantes y al personal al aprendizaje presencial el próximo mes. Otra prioridad es visitar las comunidades escolares para escuchar activamente y aprender del personal, los padres, los estudiantes y los miembros de la comunidad. Por último, se evaluarán las expectativas de aprendizaje de los estudiantes mediante la revisión de los programas y los sistemas existentes que analizan el rendimiento de los estudiantes, lo que están aprendiendo y lo que necesitan para lograrlo. Esto incluye una inmersión profunda en las oportunidades de desarrollo de capacidades de nuestro personal y en cómo promueven el aprendizaje de los estudiantes.
Considero que todos los estudiantes tienen un potencial ilimitado. Las escuelas son lugares para fomentar su desarrollo y proporcionar a cada uno de ellos las habilidades y los conocimientos que necesitan para estar preparados para su siguiente gran paso en la vida después de la graduación. Para hacerlo exitosamente, debemos ofrecer oportunidades de aprendizaje equitativas a cada estudiante, reconociendo, respetando y celebrando sus atributos únicos.
Me enorgullece unirme a una comunidad de educadores que está comprometida con el aprendizaje y los logros de cada uno de los 27.000 jóvenes de nuestras escuelas. Estoy deseosa por trabajar junto con el personal y nuestra comunidad para alcanzar nuestro compromiso con cada estudiante. Construyamos sobre los muchos logros de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Charles y trabajemos juntos para asegurar que todos los estudiantes estén preparados para su futuro.
Atentamente,
Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.
Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Charles
Greetings from Superintendent Dr. Maria Navarro
Video Transcripts
ENGLISH
Hello. I’m Maria Navarro and I am proud to serve as the new superintendent of Charles County Public Schools.
Since starting my position on July first, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with central office staff and I’ve also visited several schools. I’ve met many wonderful, dynamic staff, clearly committed to their students and their school communities. And I am also pleased to report that there is a lot of excitement and work being done to welcome back all students for in-person learning on August 30th
As you may be aware, I am a career educator – first as a math and science teacher and then working as a school and central office administrator. My decision to become an educator was influenced by my favorite teacher – Mr. Kevin Sullivan. What I remember the most about Mr. Sullivan is not only what an amazing math teacher he was, but also the kindness and patience he showed me when I walked in his class as a 5th grader -- speaking no English and feeling frankly pretty scared about this new country my family and I had moved to. I strived to be the kind of teacher Mr. Sullivan was for me – someone who made me feel welcomed in his class and a teacher who went out of his way to make sure that while I was learning English, I did not fall behind in also learning math.
So today, based on that experience and the many interactions that I’ve had with so many young people throughout my career, I truly believe that all of our students have limitless potential and we as educators must always be learning and improving our practices so that we provide them welcoming, engaging, rigorous and equitable learning opportunities
I believe to know a student well is to know how to educate them well. We must always ground our practices on high expectations for every student and have the unwavering commitment to help each one of them meet such expectations. I think we do this as a community with parents, faith based leaders, community partners and frankly anyone who is invested and dedicated in the learning and prosperity of the youth here in Charles County.
I am excited for the collective work we will be doing together on behalf of the students of Charles County Public Schools and I join my fellow colleagues in saying that I too can’t wait to welcome all students back to our schools on August 30th.
