A parent takes of photo of her student with costumed teacher Cynthia Clark outside of H.H. Garnet Elementary School in Chestertown on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 31.
Teachers and students were back in classrooms last week to kick off the start of a new school year.
Monday, Aug. 31 led off the staggered start of the school year, with first through sixth grades and ninth-graders greeting teachers and staff and seeing their new classrooms.
For sixth- and ninth-graders, a first day without upperclassmen provides a full new school orientation, giving them space to learn a new building and daily schedule.
On Sept. 1, the rest of the secondary school students returned from their summer breaks, followed by prekindergarten and kindergarten students on Sept. 2.
Kent County Middle School Principal Mark Buckel welcomes sixth-graders to their first day in the building Monday, Aug. 31.
"We are delighted to have joyfully and smoothly opened the 2026-27 school year," said Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools. "We look forward to continuing this positive launch through partnerships with parents and community members throughout the rest of the school year."
Teachers, administrators and staff were outside of buildings or lining hallways Aug. 31, greeting families and students and lending the day a celebratory air.
Dr. McComas visited each of the schools on the first day and made additional trips to buildings throughout the week.
Galena Elementary School launched a new prekindergarten program for 3-year-olds this year. Teacher Gabriella Eltringham welcomes the young students to her classroom Wednesday, Sept. 2.
She said teachers and principals welcomed about 1,729 students back to school, including students in prekindergarten for 3-year-olds — a recent additional to grades pre-K to 12 taught in Kent County Public Schools.
The school system launched the program for 3-year-olds last year at H.H. Garnet Elementary School. Due to space limitations in the building, Kent County Public Schools partnered with the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown to lease classroom space.
This year, the state awarded funding to expand the 3-year-olds pre-K program to Galena Elementary School. A classroom was converted in the school for these young learners.
"We now offer prekindergarten to 3-year-olds in both H.H. Garnet and Galena elementary schools strengthening our early childhood programs," Dr. McComas said.
A team of upperclassmen, right, welcomes freshmen to Kent County High School Monday, Aug. 31. Ninth-graders spend their first day of school learning their about new building, while students in grades 10-12 did not start classes until Sept. 1.
She announced that H.H. Garnet and Rock Hall elementary schools are being recognized as “Bright Spots Top Schools in Literacy” that are beating the odds in literacy by The 74, a national news and data-driven journalism organization.
Dr. McComas also said the secondary schools have started athletics, academics and extracurriculars for the year with gusto.
In the lead-up to the school year's start, Dr. McComas held an all-staff celebration in the Kent County High School auditorium Wednesday, Aug. 26.
She highlighted the school system's gains in student achievement and joined in celebrating the career milestones of team members.
As part of the opening celebration, Teacher of the Year Kevin Nelson of Kent County High School, received a Ford Bronco from the Hertrich automotive dealership for his personal use during the year.
Maryland State Board of Education member Nick Greer observes a lesson at Rock Hall Elementary School Thursday, Sept. 3 during the first week of classes.
The school system welcomed nearly 20 new teachers and staff members this year, among them, Michael O'Brien, assistant superintendent for instruction, and Dr. Yolanda Holloway, director of human resources, and 10 teachers earned tenure.
Dr. McComas spoke to everyone on the Kent County Public Schools team Aug. 26 about the latest achievement data and long-term goals.
"Being the smallest school system in the state, we have the greatest potential to be the highest performing school system in the state," Dr. McComas said.
Teacher of the Year Kevin Nelson, left, receives the keys to a new Ford Bronco from Hertrich automotive dealerships Aug. 26 for his use during the school year.
She said that potential exists because teachers, administrators and staff know every student "by name, by need and by aspiration." She described Kent County Public Schools as a boutique experience, catering to each student, as opposed to a big box school system.
Going into the long Labor Day holiday weekend, the first week of school ended with a special visitor. Nick Greer, the parent member of the Maryland State Board of Education, toured Rock Hall Elementary School Thursday, Sept. 3 with Dr. McComas, O'Brien and Principal Gillian Spero.
Greer got a first-hand look at what a small school like Rock Hall can achieve through tailored instruction and the support of teachers, parents and the community.
"It was a pleasure to have a State Board of Education member visit for our opening week. Mr. Greer's passion and dedication to ensuring students across the state have high quality learning experiences was evident through his engagement with students, teachers and Ms. Spero," Dr. McComas said.
