College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown Dean Dr. Tracy Harris and St. Mary’s County Public Schools Director fo Special Eeducation Melissa Charbonnet
Leonardtown, MD –St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) and College of Southern Maryland (CSM) partnerships were recently recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The partnerships were highlighted at the MSDE Fall Leadership Conference as “models for other local education agencies working to develop authentic college experiences for their students.”
The partnerships were in turn recognized April 27 by the St. Mary’s County Board of Education. The board presented a certificate of recognition to Dr. Tracy Harris, dean of the Leonardtown campus.
One of those partnerships, the Gateway to Independence Program, is a transition program for students with disabilities who are 18 to 21 years of age and who will graduate from high school with a Certificate of Program Completion. They also have postsecondary goals to live, travel and work independently in the community.
According to material supplied to the board by Director of Special Education Melissa Charbonnet, “The program provides these students with the academic, vocational, social, and travel training skills necessary for a successful transition to postsecondary life, in an authentic learning environment on a college campus.
Students enrolled in the Gateway to Independence program register as CSM students and receive student IDs which allow them to participate in typical college activities. Students access the Wellness Center facilities, participate in classes, and are included in the Student Activity Center. These experiences enhance the development of interpersonal skills with same age peers, as well as build self-determination and problem solving skills.”
According to Charbonnet, “A second program provides a college experience, as well as continuing education college credit, for students who are pursuing a Maryland High School Diploma and are at risk of dropping out. Ten to 11 students per semester register as CSM students and attend the ‘Life After High School’ course. This course is designed to keep students engaged with school and plan for their postsecondary education and employment. Since the inception of the class, 100 percent of the participating students have completed all their credit requirements, have stayed in school and graduated.”
Before presenting the certificate to Dr. Harris, Charbonnet said, “The support of Dr. Harris, his staff and the college campus itself are critical to the success of these programs.”
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com