Latest news with #PGCPS
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How politics undermine Prince George's County Public Schools success
Prince George's County Public Schools headquarters in Upper Marlboro. (Photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters) As a veteran parent leader and advocate for six years in Prince George's County, I've seen my share of politically motivated nonsense. The mistreatment of Superintendent Millard House II over the past several weeks is easily the most shameful. Put simply, the Prince George's County Educators' Association (PGCEA) and Board of Education got this wrong and should be ashamed of the role they played in his departure. They unfairly attacked a good man who was the right leader for PGCPS and making real progress. Superintendent House earned my complete confidence over the past two years, which is why I remain willing to unequivocally publicly defend his record today. And I equally defend the dedicated department heads and PGCPS professionals who deserve full credit for their successes. By every metric, PGCPS should have been negotiating a contract extension. Under Superintendent House, graduation rates rose above 80%, including a 15-point increase for English learners. Major transportation reforms led to significant improvements, with on-time performance now above 80% and a new tracking app and electric buses on the way. School safety investments resulted in a 46% drop in student incidents. And PGCPS had a highly successful Annapolis advocacy effort this year that helped save Community Schools funding and about two-thirds of funding originally at risk of being cut. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Let's be clear what happened. Some county politicians, board members and special interests would rather play political games and undermine our students' future than allow major PGCPS successes and any credit for the superintendent. They staged a leadership coup behind closed doors, with no opportunity for public input, while putting a $2.9 billion school system at risk of turning into a patronage system for political appointments. Past is prologue, as we already saw similar shenanigans at the Board of Education level several years ago as board staff positions were used to hire political allies at taxpayer expense, with many hires ending in controversy. That is the historical context for this moment, and yet even knowing the professional risk of refusing to play along with unseemly and inappropriate demands, Superintendent House displayed true character, serving as the bulwark who bravely said, 'No,' and attempted to keep PGCPS from chaos. I've been through six years of PGCPS battles and seen these games too many times before. Past board members attempted to play politics and micromanage former CEO Dr. Monica Goldson on COVID-19 policy and other issues. She also pushed back, and even on the rare issues where we didn't agree, we shared mutual respect, and I could always trust her to do the right thing and act in PGCPS' best interest. Now, it's the same playbook, next chapter for Superintendent House. The same politicians who worked to undermine PGCPS accomplishments the past few months had the audacity to blame the superintendent for their own sabotage. And some of the same characters central to this coup did the same thing early in his tenure, nearly derailing more than $800 million in new school construction. Parent leaders called out their games then, and won't be silent now. Despite daily PGCPS successes, one constant continues to threaten our school system: Too much political interference in what should be administrative operations. To truly succeed, we must allow administrative leadership to be immune from politics. Hire a qualified education expert as superintendent, give them a four-year term, then stay out of the way. That doesn't exclude important oversight on policies, budget and key appointments. But short of serious malfeasance, any superintendent must have the security to do the job we hired them to do. What sane, qualified superintendent would want to work in Prince George's County after the disgraceful behavior of the past few months? Finally, we have created chaos at a moment PGCPS can least afford it. With a likely legislative special session in October and challenging state budget situation, good luck trying to win much-needed resources as Prince George's County proves incapable of governing ourselves responsibly. If PGCEA leadership had taken a fraction of the energy they spent attacking the Superintendent and used it to truly fight for protecting Blueprint funding, perhaps PGCPS could more easily meet their contract demands. Instead, now some other school district will gain a highly qualified and successful Superintendent while PGCPS searches for our fourth leader since 2018. That is no way to run a world-class school district, and like always, it will be the students of PGCPS who pay the price. And once again, the same old Prince George's politics to blame.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prince George's County Public Schools interim superintendent named
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. - An interim superintendent for Prince George's County Public Schools has been named. Prince George's County Executive-elect Aisha Braveboy named Shawn Joseph, the co-director of AASA-Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy, as the interim superintendent. Joseph replaces Millard House II, whose announcement of departure was less than 24 hours ago. "I'm pleased to welcome Dr. Joseph home to Prince George's County, and I look forward to partnering with him and the Board of Education to chart a positive path forward," Braveboy said. "This is a pivotal moment for the school system and it's an opportunity to reimagine what's possible for our students and families. With Dr. Joseph's seasoned leadership and the Board's unwavering commitment, PGCPS can improve outcomes in student achievement, strengthen employee relations, and enhance the overall educational experience." Joseph sits on the faculty of Howard University, serving as assistant professor of educational leadership, administration, and policy. Joseph holds a doctoral degree in educational administration and policy studies from George Washington University, a master's degree in reading education from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor's degree in English education from Lincoln University. The backstory The school board held a closed-door meeting in Upper Marlboro Thursday night. That's where they decided to part ways. Leaders with the Prince George's County school district say it's a mutual agreement to separate their employment relationship with their superintendent. This goes into effect next week on Wednesday. House was appointed superintendent on July 1, 2023, by former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. In a statement. PGCPS highlighted his achievements during his time with the district, like increasing the graduation rate to now over 80%. They went on to say that he's "set the system on a path for continued improvement." But this decision isn't a surprise to many in the community, including the teachers union. Just last week, the Prince Georges County Educators' Association put out a vote of 'no confidence' House following frustrations and the current staffing crisis. The president of the union, Donna Christy, spoke with FOX 5 after the vote. "We are desperate for strong leadership, our school system is not in a healthy place, too many vacancies, payroll is often missed, people don't get paychecks randomly — Our staff feels disrespected, does not have faith that anything's gonna change," Christy said.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- NDTV
TikTok's 'Chromebook Challenge' Sparks School Laptop Fires In US, Prompting Safety Concerns
Social media challenges have long posed risks to young users, with some tragically resulting in participant deaths. Now, a new trend-predominantly popular on TikTok-is gaining traction, particularly in the US, and is proving to be dangerously hazardous. According to NBC News, a dangerous TikTok challenge is prompting students to tamper with their school-issued Chromebooks, causing the devices to smoke or even catch fire-forcing some schools to evacuate. Participants insert objects like pencils or paper clips into the USB ports, leading to short circuits and, in some cases, toxic smoke or small fires. Fire officials have also warned that lithium batteries in these devices could explode, posing a serious risk of injury. Prince George's County Public Schools has reported up to 10 such incidents. "In addition to posing serious safety hazards, these actions can lead to costly repairs and disciplinary consequences," PGCPS said in a statement. "We have seen a few incidents related to the Chromebook challenge in our district. We are actively monitoring this trend and have informed our community about the risks." Loudoun County Public Schools reported a significant increase in the number of student-issued devices needing repairs - a sign that some students could be accepting the challenge. "Kids can see this as just a joke or harmless prank, but this is something that could lead to a really dangerous situation and just want to keep our kids safe," Dan Adams of LCPS told NBC News. Because the computers belong to the school system, parents could have to pay for the devices repaired or replaced. TikTok said the videos are not unique to its platform. It said it has blocked certain search terms such as "Chromebook challenge."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Confirmed case of measles at Prince George's County Montessori school
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. () — Officials confirmed a case of measles at a Montessori school in Oxon Hill Friday, potentially exposing its young students, faculty, and staff to the highly contagious disease. In a letter sent to parents, guardians, and staff Thursday, John Hanson Montessori Principal Courtney M. King said the last date of exposure in the school was March 12. Due to privacy guidelines, she could not confirm information about the person who tested positive – including whether they are a student or teacher. DC, Virginia health officials warn about potential measles exposure after cases confirmed in Maryland Students at John Hanson Montessori are in Pre-K through Middle School (grades six through eighth). In the letter, King noted that people who have been vaccinated for Measles (MMR) are at an extremely limited risk of contracting the disease. Unvaccinated people, however, face a significantly higher risk of infection and complications, Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) said. Measles typically begins with a high fever and cold-like symptoms, including a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Then, people develop a red rash that may look like small bumps and could last for five to six days. As a precaution, any unvaccinated student or staff member at John Hanson Montessori will be excluded from in-person learning or work for 21 days. Despite the 'serious concern' caused by measles, PGCPD Superintendent Millard House II reminded parents that the flu season is still ongoing. In the past season, the Prince George's County community has experienced two flu-related deaths. Family remembers 10-year-old who died from flu in Prince George's County 'This serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of protecting our health and taking steps to prevent the spread of illness,' House stated. Just last month, – who attended John Bayne Elementary School in Capitol Heights – passed away from the flu. PGCPS officials urged parents to notify a school nurse (301) 749-4052 if they or their children have been diagnosed with measles. They should then stay home and contact the Prince George's County Health Department at (301) 583-3750. Though school officials have taken measures to slow the spread of illness, House urged parents to ensure their children are up to date on their immunizations and to keep them home if they are not feeling well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
