Our Vision

Education is the key to the vitality and sustainability of our community.  The Garrett County Public School System maintains an environment in which staff, students, parents, and the community work collectively for a brighter tomorrow.  While celebrating the culture and traditions of Garrett County, the schools and community collaboratively create an environment where the needs of the whole child are nurtured to become productive, enthusiastic, and successful members of society.

Mission

The mission of Garrett County Public Schools, in partnership with our community, is to inspire and foster student growth by providing rigorous instruction and real-world learning opportunities, sustaining a culture of excellence, offering research-based supports for diverse learning needs, and preparing our students for life in an ever-changing world.

Goals

• All students will be challenged with a rigorous instructional environment preparing them to become life-long learners and responsible citizens.
• Partnerships with all members of our community will be fostered and strengthened by engaging them in the education of our children.
• All students and staff will learn in a safe, secure, and caring environment where everyone is valued and respected.
• The school system, every department,  and every school will be a good steward of system resources and will manage them in a cost-effective manner.
• All employees will be highly qualified and effective in their jobs, contributing to a self-renewing organization.

Excellence

We provide our students and staff with the means to excel above expectations while living with integrity, taking responsibility for their actions, learning from mistakes, and achieving to the best of their ability.

Effectiveness

We are committed to providing a positive school climate where each student is recognized as a valued and unique learner. All students will be engaged in learning that promotes critical thinking and problem solving to cultivate lifelong learning and active, engaged citizenship.

Innovation

We use innovative teaching techniques to nurture enthusiasm and curiosity by encouraging students to explore, investigate, and question the world around them as they work together to solve real-world problems.

Community

We foster community involvement and appreciation of diversity by collaboration among students, staff, parents, businesses, area agencies, and other stakeholders in our community.

#1 - High Qualify Staffing

Highly-qualified employees will be recruited and hired who:

• Value students, parents, and the larger community
• Create and sustain learning environments in which students can realize their potential
• Are lifelong learners who seek continuous improvement through job-embedded professional development
• Immerse themselves, alongside community partners and families, to produce vibrant learning communities
• Demonstrate stewardship of the school system’s resources

#2 - High-Quality Instruction

Starting with our youngest learners, all students will be active and engaged learners, who enjoy learning. They will meet the challenges of robust curricula in a climate that is open, fair, honest, and respectful to all people.  Schools, as learning communities, will offer opportunities for all students to achieve excellence in their academics as they work towards their career path, while actively fostering compassion in their interactions and relationships with others, thereby empowering students to contribute positively to their communities. Our approach will address the holistic needs of our students, including academic, social emotional, and behavioral support. 

#3 - Partnerships

Partnerships are integral to building a culture of rigorous, high-quality instruction in which excellence in student achievement is normative and ensures learning and success for all students. Community contributions are encouraged and valued. Partnerships support tangibly the innovation and creativity embedded in the school system and will energize the achievement of all students.

Parents, families, and the greater community have shared responsibility for the success of students. Their involvement, participation, and engagement in student learning will benefit teaching and learning for all students. In collaboration with school staff, parents and family are important in building their children’s self-confidence and assisting them in acquiring the pathways necessary for lifelong success and public engagement.