LEONARDTOWN, Md. (October 18, 2011)—St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) has been named the Maryland School System of the Year by the Maryland Center for Character Education (MCCE). This award recognizes the school system in the state that has instituted, developed, and is continuing a comprehensive character education initiative throughout the school system and its community.
This award was presented to SMCPS on October 6 during MCCE's annual conference and award ceremony held at Stevenson University in Stevenson.
"St. Mary's County Public Schools is an outstanding school system with many beautiful and wonderful students," said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. "As we prepare each one to be college and career ready, we must work with our parents to ensure that each child sits on a solid foundation of character. This award is testament to the efforts that we place on character development for each one of our children. I am so proud of these efforts."
SMCPS was recognized for incorporating character education into the daily educational routine of students by embedding it in the curriculum, displaying it in the physical learning environment, making it a part of the Student Code of Conduct, and expressing it through community service projects.