Crofton Elementary School parent Carol Streeter has been named a semifinalist for the Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Award, a statewide honor designed to recognize parents who go to incredible lengths to help schools in their communities.
Streeter has taken the lead in creating and enhancing STEM programs at Crofton Elementary. She initiated NASA Best, a program designed to introduce young children to STEM and support current STEM practices in county schools.
Streeter’s efforts resulted in the recruitment of dozens of volunteers to run the program and more than 100 students who were eager to take part in it. As a result, “students are now talking about real-world problems and creating solutions to these problems, which could be the jobs of tomorrow,” Crofton Principal Ginger Henley wrote in her nomination letter.
Streeter has held many volunteer roles, from running the school’s Math Facts and E-cubed programs, to supporting teachers in publishing a school directory, to participation on the School Improvement Team and superintendent’s Parent Involvement Advisory Council.
“She has displayed a passion for improving public education not only for her children, but for all children,” fellow Crofton Elementary parent Donna Gogarty wrote in her nomination of Streeter.
Semifinalists will be judged on their contributions and impact in five areas: communication, volunteering, learning, decision-making, and community collaboration. Announcement of the finalists and the statewide winner is set for May 18.