Victoria Kelly, the Parent-Teacher-Organization (PTO) President and parent of two students at Mary H. Matula Elementary School, was recently selected as Charles County’s 2013 semifinalist in the Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Award program. As the county winner, she is now in the running to be selected as a finalist for the state award.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) created the awards program to recognize Maryland parents who have made contributions to public education and to highlight the positive impact parents have on public schools. The award recognizes parents from local school systems across Maryland who are nominated in five areas of parental involvement:communication, volunteering, learning, decision making and community collaboration.
Kelly said she is humbled by her nomination and to be recognized for her dedication to Matula and the school community. “I am truly honored to receive this award. Parent involvement is key to student success, so watching parent involvement at Matula grow over the past year gives me great hope for our students’ futures. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my children’s school in any way I can. It is a joy to be a part of a community like Matula’s,” she said.
Kelly was nominated for the award by Sheryl Dominicis, a Matula parent, for implementing schoolwide initiative called “Crossing the Threshold.” The initiative focuses on increasing school and community involvement by providing opportunities for parents to “cross the threshold” or attend school events and/or volunteer. Her nomination was also supported through letters of recommendation from Matula Principal Timothy Rosin, Matula second-grade teacher Suzy Grund and Mary Winkler, a fellow Matula parent.
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