Maryland Center For School Safety Honors Outstanding Commitment to School Safety
Award Ceremony Recognizes Leaders in School Safety
BALTIMORE – The Maryland Center for School Safety held its 5th Annual School Safety Conference this past month in Annapolis. An award ceremony held during the conference honored individuals and teams that went above and beyond in the name of school safety during the 2017/2018 school year. The awards were presented in the following categories:
School Safety Superintendent of the Year Award- Presented to a School Superintendent who has excelled in creating a climate of school safety culture through preparedness, prevention, intervention, and response within their school system. This superintendent has also demonstrated extreme resolve and leadership to the mission of school safety and emergency preparedness.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Louis H. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools, Worcester County Public Schools
School Safety Superintendent and Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award- This award honors a School Superintendent/Deputy Superintendent and Sheriff/Police Chief who collectively demonstrated outstanding leadership and a collaborative working relationship/partnership to create a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for students, staff, and parents.
2017/2018 Awardees:
Milton Nagel, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Caroline County Public Schools Sheriff Randy Bounds, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office
Dr. Theresa R. Alban, Superintendent of Schools, Frederick County Public Schools
Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
School Safety/Security Administrator and Law Enforcement Supervisor of the Year Award- This award is presented to a School Safety/Security Administrator and Law Enforcement Supervisor who have made a difference working collaboratively together and who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in creating a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment.
2017/2018 Awardees:
April Lewis, Executive Director, Department of School Safety, Baltimore County Public Schools Sergeant Anissa Watkins, Assistant Safe Schools Facilitator, Baltimore County Police
School Safety Administrator of the Year Award- This award recognizes a School Safety/Security Administrator who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment in creating a climate of safety and security for students, staff, and parents at their school.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Joshua Work, Assistant Principal, Middletown Middle School, Frederick County Public Schools
School Safety/Security Team of the Year Award- This award is presented to a School Safety/Security Team that has demonstrated sustained efforts in creating a safe and secure learning environment within their local school system.
2017/2018 Awardees:
F. Michael Wyant, Director School Safety and Security, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Kristee Boyle, Security Specialist, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Julie Piper, Fiscal Secretary/Administrative Assistant, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
School Safety/Security Director of the Year Award– This award is given to a School Safety/Security Director that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to creating and enhancing a safe and secure learning environment for students, staff, and parents.
2017/2018 Awardees:
Thomas E. Alban, Director of Risk Management, Archdiocese of Baltimore
Glenn Belmore, Risk Manager, Charles County Public Schools
Scott Blundell, Supervisor of Security and Emergency Management, Frederick County Public Schools
Michael Wyant, Director School Safety and Security, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
School Safety Outstanding Service Award- Presented to an individual who has demonstrated invaluable assistance and sustained support to the Maryland Center for School safety in creating a safe school environment across the State of Maryland.
2017/2018 Awardees:
Captain Holly L. Barrett, Maryland State Police
Kevin Burnett, Coordinator of Security, Howard County Public Schools
Corporal Jon. E. Carrier, School Resource Officer, Anne Arundel County Police Department
Lt. Brendan E. Devaney, Homeland Security Intelligence Unit, Prince George’s County Police Department
Michael L. Ford, Zone 2 Manager School Safety, Baltimore County Public Schools
Michael S. Rudinski, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
School Safety Law Enforcement Agency of the Year Award- This award honors a Law Enforcement Agency that has demonstrated extreme strength, compassion, resilience, and perseverance in responding to and recovering from a tragedy at a school.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
School Safety High School of the Year Award– This award recognizes a High School that has demonstrated extreme strength, compassion, resilience, and perseverance in responding to and recovering from a tragedy.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Dr. Jake Heibel and Great Mills High School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
School Safety Local School System of the Year Award- This award is presented to a Local School System that has demonstrated extreme strength, compassion, resilience, and perseverance in responding to and recovering from a tragedy at a school.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Dr. J. Scott Smith and St. Mary’s County Public Schools
School Resource Officer of the Year Award- This award is given to a School Resource Officer for their outstanding and sustained efforts to work collaboratively and in partnership with school administrators and staff in creating a safe and secure learning environment at their assigned school.
2017/2018 Awardees:
Corporal Michael Gestole, School Resource Officer, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office
Police Officer III Daniel Riddle, School Resource Officer, Montgomery County Police Department Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill, School Resource Officer, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
Maryland Center for School Safety Governing Board Awards- These awards were presented to original Governing Board members and others who joined the Governing Board for their sustained outstanding leadership, direction, support, and commitment to creating and enhancing a safe and secure learning environment for students, staff, and parents across the State of Maryland.
2017/2018 Awardees:
Dr. Karen B. Salmon, Governing Board Chair, State Superintendent of Schools
Valerie S. Carr, Original Governing Board Member
Dr. Lorig Charkoudian, Original Governing Board Member
Theresa E. Detorie, Original Governing Board Member
Michael A. Durso, Original Governing Board Member
Dr. Margaret G. Kidder, Original Governing Board Member
Dr. Henry V. Wagner, Jr., Original Governing Board Member
Elizabeth Watson Ray, Original Governing Board Member
Cecilia Warren, Original Governing Board Member
Captain Holly L. Barrett, Governing Board Member
Assistant Attorney General Dawn P. O’Croinin, Governing Board Member
Assistant Attorney General William H. Fields, Governing Board Member
Retirement Outstanding Service Award- This award is presented to an individual who has had a profound impact during their career in creating and enhancing a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment.
2017/2018 Awardee:
Andrew “Andy” James Turner III, Safe Schools Coordinator, Wicomico County Public Schools