九色视频 鈥 Speaking before teachers and staff, Talbot County Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi encouraged employees to carry first-day-of-school energy with them throughout the entire year.
Hundreds packed the Easton High School auditorium Thursday morning for the annual opening day rally. Pepukayi asked everyone to remember why they got into education 鈥 for the students.
鈥淚 want us to remember this feeling when we鈥檙e happy, we have smiling faces, and we see our students,鈥 Pepukayi said. 鈥淏ecause we all know what happens, the rollercoaster of education.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檒l go up and down, it鈥檒l ebb and flow,鈥 she added. 鈥淏ut remember your why.鈥
Children return to the classroom on Monday for the first day of school. Before teachers get into the full swing, Pepukayi unveiled new district initiatives to staff.
One is what she called a 鈥渃ommunity bus.鈥 Decked out with school logos, it will go around the community providing clothes, food and other needs to families, Pepukayi said.
She updated staff on two other items. The staff health center in Easton is under construction and expected to open sometimes this fall. District officials have had to overcome delayed construction work on the project this spring due to a federal reimbursement snag.
Meanwhile, a new early learning center for kids up to 5 years old is in the works for White Marsh Elementary School in Trappe, Pepukayi said. This spring, Tilghman Elementary School opened its Judy Center, joining Easton and St. Michaels.
Giovanni Wynn, family service coordinator at the St. Michaels site, delivered a speech on the importance of early learning and her excitement for White Marsh Elementary to join the district鈥檚 other Judy Centers.
Wynn, the 2025-26 Talbot Support Staff of the Year, and Easton High School band director Lauren Rose, the Teacher of the Year, each were presented with new cars from Hertrich Chevy Buick GMC of Easton and General Manager Pat Papineau.
Other awards were presented on Thursday, including the J. Sam Meek Unsung Hero Award. Pepukayi spoke on the impact of the two winners: Kristen Tilghman, former Blueprint implementation coordinator, and Michelle Ringgold, administrative assistant of curriculum.
Tilghman, now assistant principal at Easton High School, spent three years as the district鈥檚 point person in carrying out The Blueprint for Maryland鈥檚 Future, the state鈥檚 expansive education reform package.
鈥淲hen I first came on board, the Blueprint was alive and kicking, and I had no idea what it was about,鈥 Pepukayi said. 鈥... She helped me tremendously in navigating through the Blueprint.鈥
Ringgold has juggled a large budget, supporting field trips and arranging tutors to go to classrooms in her role at the Talbot County Education Center, Pepukayi said.
鈥淲hen I walk in, no matter what day, no matter what challenge she鈥檚 been through, there鈥檚 always a smile on her face,鈥 Pepukayi said of Ringgold.
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