top of page
.png){kind=small}
NEWS FROM PSSAM
All Posts (https://www.pssam.org/news)
2023 Session (https://pssam.org/news/categories/2023-session)
Athletics & Extracurricular Activities (https://pssam.org/news/categories/athletics-extracurriculars)
Blueprint (https://pssam.org/news/categories/blueprint)
Capital Budget (https://pssam.org/news/categories/capital-budget)
Career & Technology Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/career-technology-education)
Charter Schools & Non-Public Schools (https://pssam.org/news/categories/charter-schools-non-public-school)
Collective Bargaining (https://pssam.org/categories/collective-bargaining)
College & Career Readiness (https://pssam.org/news/categories/college-career-readiness)
Community Colleges (https://pssam.org/news/categories/community-colleges)
Community Schools (https://pssam.org/news/categories/community-schools)
COVID-19 & Learning Loss (https://pssam.org/news/categories/covid-19-learning-loss)
Curriculum & Assessments (https://pssam.org/news/categories/curriculum-assessments)
Discipline (https://pssam.org/news/categories/discipline)
Early Childhood Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/early-childhood-education)
English Language Learners (https://pssam.org/news/categories/english-language-learners)
Federal Issues (https://pssam.org/news/categories/federal-issues)
Food Service (https://pssam.org/news/categories/food-service)
Governance & Accountability (https://pssam.org/news/categories/governance-accountability)
Health & Mental Health (https://pssam.org/news/categories/health-mental-health)
High Quality & Diverse Teachers (https://pssam.org/news/categories/high-quality-diverse-teachers)
Human Resources & Employment (https://pssam.org/news/categories/human-resources-employment)
Libraries (https://pssam.org/news/categories/libraries)
Local Boards of Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/local-boards-of-education)
Local Budgets (https://pssam.org/news/categories/local-budgets)
Local System News (https://pssam.org/news/categories/local-system-news)
Operating Budget (https://pssam.org/news/categories/operating-budget)
Out-of-School Time (https://pssam.org/news/categories/out-of-school-time)
PSSAM News & Events (https://pssam.org/news/categories/pssam-news-events)
School Construction (https://pssam.org/news/categories/school-construction)
School Safety (https://pssam.org/news/categories/school-safety)
Special Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/special-education)
State Board of Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/state-board-of-education)
State Department of Education (https://pssam.org/news/categories/state-department-of-education)
Superintendents (https://pssam.org/news/categories/superintendents)
Support Services (https://pssam.org/news/categories/support-services)
Teacher Certification (https://pssam.org/news/categories/teacher-certification)
Technology & Cyber Security (https://pssam.org/news/categories/technology-cyber-security)
Transportation (https://pssam.org/news/categories/transportation)
Virtual Schools (https://pssam.org/news/categories/virtual-schools)
SB 51 Public Schools - Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms - Use of Video Recording Devices
BILL: SB 51 TITLE: Public Schools - Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms - Use of Video Recording Devices DATE: February 04, 2026 POSITION: Support with Amendments COMMITTEE: Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, opposes Senate Bill 51. This bill requires each local board
Feb 6
SB 48 Education - Public School Construction - Alterations
BILL: SB 48 TITLE: Education - Public School Construction - Alterations DATE: February 03, 2026 POSITION: Support with Amendments COMMITTEE: Senate Budget and Taxation Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports Senate Bill 48 with amendments . This bill proposes several changes to the public school construction progr
Feb 6
HB 189 Public Middle, High, and Charter Schools - Start Time for Instruction
BILL: HB 189 TITLE: Public Middle, High, and Charter Schools - Start Time for Instruction DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, opposes House Bill 189. This bill requires, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, all middle schools in the State to beg
Feb 6
HB 163 Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members
BILL: HB 163 TITLE: County Boards of Education - Student Technology Use Policy Requirements DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents opposes House Bill 163. This bill requires county boards of education to develop and adopt a policy that prohibits elemen
Feb 6
HB 154 Open Meetings Act - County Boards of Education - Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act)
BILL: HB 154 TITLE: Open Meetings Act - County Boards of Education - Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act) DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Favorable with Amendments COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, supports House Bill 154 with amendments . This bill makes lo
Feb 6
HB 128 County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools
BILL: HB 128 TITLE: County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, sadly opposes HB 128 . This bill requires each local board of education to allow, and adopt a policy for, the u
Feb 6
HB 123 School Systems - Reportable Offenses - Alterations
BILL: HB 123 TITLE: School Systems - Reportable Offenses - Alterations DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Letter of Information COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee House Judiciary Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, provides this Letter of Information regarding House Bill 123. This bill expands the offenses that q
Feb 6
HB 110 Motor Vehicles - School Buses - Seat Belts
BILL: HB 110 TITLE: Motor Vehicles - School Buses - Seat Belts DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Favorable COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee House Environment & Transportation Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, supports HB 110 . This bill requires every school bus purchased on or after July 1, 2030, and registe
Feb 6
HB 63 Education - Interscholastic and Intramural Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams and Locker Rooms - Designation Based on Sex (Fairness in Girls' Sports Act)
BILL: HB 63 TITLE: Education - Interscholastic and Intramural Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams and Locker Rooms - Designation Based on Sex (Fairness in Girls' Sports Act) DATE: February 05, 2026 POSITION: Oppose COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, opposes House Bill 63. This bill requires a
Feb 6
HB 102 Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members
BILL: HB 102 TITLE: Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members DATE: January 29, 2026 POSITION: Favorable COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four public school superintendents, supports House Bill 102. This bill requires local school systems to allow a dependent child of a service member to apply for advance e
Jan 29
HB 29 County Boards of Education – Post College and Career Readiness Pathways – Payment of Costs
BILL: HB 29 TITLE: County Boards of Education – Post College and Career Readiness Pathways – Payment of Costs DATE: January 29, 2026 POSITION: Favorable COMMITTEE: House Ways & Means Committee CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four Maryland local school superintendents, supports House Bill 29. This legislation authorizes a county board of education to develop and
Jan 29
Spotlight: Finalists Named for AASA’s 2026 National Superintendent of the Year® Award
Press Release from AASA HQ December 15, 2025 Contact: Lara Wade Director of Communications Mobile: 813-833-1498 lwade@aasa.org Honorees include superintendents from Kentucky, Texas, Maine and Maryland Alexandria, Va. – Dec. 15, 2025 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is proud to announce the four finalists for the prestigious 2026 National Superintendent of the Year ® Award. This award, co-presented by AASA, Corebridge Financial , and Sourcewell , recognizes ex
Dec 15, 2025
Spotlight: How No Kid Hungry is Helping Feed Students in Maryland School
The Today Show December 2, 2025 Featured on The Today Show on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, Caroline County Public Schools and other rural districts on the Eastern Shore of Maryland are tackling food insecurity. "At Greensboro Elementary School in Caroline County in Maryland, students are getting a valuable boost in nutrition thanks to the non-profit No Kid Hungry — and it extends beyond classroom walls. The school system sends food home on Fridays for families who need it ove
Dec 4, 2025
Spotlight: Baltimore County schools leader Myriam Rogers up for national award
The Baltimore Sun By: Racquel Bazos November 22, 2025 The superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools is a finalist in the The School Superintendents Association’s 2026 Women in School Leadership Awards, the association announced Thursday. Myriam Rogers is one of two finalists in the superintendent category, alongside Crystal Turner, superintendent of Saddleback Valley Unified School District in California. Rogers began her tenure as superintendent in 2023. “These acco
Nov 24, 2025
Spotlight: Crofton High Schools' Danielle Crankfield Named National School Counselor of the Year
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Press Release November 17, 2025 Danielle Crankfield had a little trouble understanding just what was going on as she walked into the media center at Crofton High School this afternoon. Students, current and former colleagues, Board of Education members, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell – and even her parents, two aunts, and two nephews – were poised to deliver a surprise message: She’s the best in the country. Crankfield was named 2
Nov 18, 2025
City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises named 2026 Maryland Superintendent of the Year
Press Release October 30, 2024 Ocean City, Maryland - The Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM) has announced that Dr. Sonja Santelises, Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, has been selected as the 2026 Maryland Superintendent of the Year. The award is presented annually to a Maryland superintendent who shows excellence in educational leadership, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. “Being chosen by my peers
Oct 30, 2025
Spotlight: 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year Awarded to ALonna Soward Puryear of Frederick County Public Schools
Frederick County Public Schools Press Release September 26, 2025 Monocacy Elementary teacher ALonna Soward-Puryear was named the 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year by the Maryland State Department of Education Friday night. She received news of this prestigious honor at the conclusion of the Maryland State Teacher of the Year gala in Cockeysville, MD. Earlier this month, MSDE named Soward-Puryear as one of seven semifinalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year. Soward-Puryear
Sep 29, 2025
PSSAM Seeks Legislative Intern for 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session
Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland September 17, 2025 The Public Schools Superintendents’ Association of Maryland...
Sep 17, 2025
Spotlight: Finalists Announced for 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year
Maryland State Dept of Education September 05, 2025 Today, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and Maryland State Board of Education announced the seven local school system finalists for 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year. The finalists are Jacqueline Sanderson, Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Jevons Liu, Baltimore City Public Schools; ALonna Soward-Puryear, Frederick County Public Schools; Natalie Pretzello, Howard County Public School System; Marcie Mamas,
Sep 5, 2025
Spotlight: Dr. Cheryl Dyson Honored with National Cookerly Exceptional School Superintendent Award
Frederick County Public Schools August 12, 2025 " FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson was selected as the recipient of the Tom Cookerly Exceptional School Superintendent Award by the National Center for Children and Families. This award was named after Cookerly, who believed that every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed – regardless of circumstances. Cookerly founded The Neediest Kids program in 1972, partnering with school districts to ensur
Aug 14, 2025
bottom of page