๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐
During the March 10, 2026, Board meeting, Mrs. Dawna Ashby was announced as the next Chief Academic Officer (CAO), effective July 1, 2026. This critical role will oversee curriculum, instruction, and academic strategy to drive student success across all Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS).
The selection follows a comprehensive search to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Nicole Miller, who will transition from her current role as CAO to serve as the next Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2026. Currently, Mrs. Ashby serves as the GCPS Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
As Chief Academic Officer, Mrs. Ashby will be responsible for:
โข Providing leadership and oversight of all district instructional programs to maximize student learning, growth, and academic outcomes.
โข Establishing a clear, systemwide instructional vision aligned with the GCPS Strategic Plan.
โข Leading the implementation of the Blueprint for Marylandโs Future, including progress monitoring and cross-departmental coordination.
โข Monitoring student achievement data and leading targeted improvement efforts across all schools.
"We are thrilled for Mrs. Ashby to serve as our next Chief Academic Officer," said incoming Superintendent Dr. Nicole Miller. โHer experience, leadership, and commitment to instructional excellence reflect our shared commitment to providing rigorous and meaningful learning experiences for every student in Garrett County.โ
Dr. Brenda McCartney, Superintendent of Schools, will hold two โCoffee with the Superintendentโ opportunities for parents, guardians, and community members in April. The first Coffee with the Superintendent is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Northern Middle School in the Community Room. The second opportunity is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Dennett Road Educational Complex in the Community Room. Both meetings will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Coffee with the Superintendent is a way for parents, guardians, and community members to share ideas, ask questions, and discuss the future of the school district in a relaxed, informal setting. During the April sessions, both the current Superintendent, Dr. McCartney, and the incoming Superintendent, Dr. Nicole Miller, will be available to listen, answer questions, and gather community feedback on the school system and what the future holds.
These events are open to all parents, guardians, and community members interested in Garrett County Public Schools.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐/๐/๐๐
All Garrett County Public Schools' afternoon and evening activities are permitted to take place today, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will now conduct a two-hour delay Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning. Virtual instruction will begin around 10:00 a.m.
Inclement Weather Status Update 3/3/26 7:50 a.m.: Garrett County Public Schools will now conduct a two-hour delay Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will open three (3) hours late on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) student progress reports for the third grading period will be released on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Schools will release the progress reports according to their school-specific policy. Please refer to your student handbook or school office for any questions. Up-to-date grading periods are available on our website at https://www.gcps.net/page/gcps-calendars.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐/๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) is preparing for the possibility of a Virtual Learning Day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. All necessary learning materials will be sent home with students today, Monday, March 2, 2026. No decision has been made at this time. A message will be sent through our regular media outlets and school system alerts no later than 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, regarding whether a virtual learning day will be implemented.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐/๐๐
GCPS will operate normally today, Monday, March 2, 2026, and will not use a virtual learning day.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฒ โ ๐/๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) is preparing for the possibility of a Virtual Learning Day on Monday, March 2, 2026. All necessary learning materials will be sent home with students today, Friday, February 27, 2026. No decision has been made at this time. A message will be sent through our regular media outlets and school system alerts no later than 6:00 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, regarding whether a virtual learning day will be implemented.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐-๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฒ
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) will dismiss students three (3) hours early on Friday, February 27, 2026, for staff development in the afternoon. County-wide staff development will take place in various schools and at Garrett College. Please note: If inclement weather causes a delayed opening at Garrett County Public Schools, the scheduled staff development and early dismissal will be canceled. Students would follow the delayed schedule and be dismissed at the regular time.
Due to todayโs inclement weather day, Monday, June 8, 2026, will now be used as a make-up day, as pre-approved on the 2025-26 GCPS Calendar. Should any additional traditional inclement weather days occur, those make-up days will be added to the end of the school year.
For up-to-date information on the GCPS calendar, please visit www.gcps.net/calendars.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐/๐๐/๐๐
All Garrett County Public Schools' afternoon and evening activities are permitted to take place today, Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This is a traditional inclement weather day. No virtual learning will occur today. Code Orange is in place for employees. Central Office Facilities will open at 10:00 a.m.
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐:๐๐ ๐๐ฆ: Garrett County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This is a traditional inclement weather day. No virtual learning will occur today. Code Orange is in place for employees. Central Office Facilities will open at 10:00 a.m.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will open three (3) hours late on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐:๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐/๐๐/๐๐
All Garrett County Public Schools' afternoon and evening activities are to conclude by 6:00 pm today, Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will conduct a Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฌ
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) was made aware this morning of a delivery issue affecting some users who did not receive a phone call and/or text message. After contacting SchoolMessenger, our mass communication service provider, we learned this is a known issue that the vendor is working to resolve.
While we await resolution, GCPS encourages parents and guardians who may question our operating status to double-check the GCPS website, GCPS Facebook page, and local media outlets for important updates. Additionally, if desired, families may review and update their communication preferences through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐๐
All Garrett County Public Schools' afternoon and evening activities are canceled for today, Monday, February 23, 2026.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐/๐๐/๐๐
Garrett County Public Schools will conduct a Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Monday, February 23, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning.
Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) is providing the following calendar reminder and update for the 2025โ26 school year:
โข ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌโ ๐๐๐ฒ โ Monday, February 16, 2026: All GCPS schools and administrative offices will be open. This day will serve as a make-up day.
โข ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐: At the February 10, 2026, meeting, the Garrett County Board of Education approved Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as the last day of classes for seniors. Graduation ceremonies for both Northern Garrett High School and Southern Garrett High School are scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Families, students, and staff are encouraged to regularly review the GCPS calendar for the most up-to-date information. Calendar updates are available on the GCPS Google Calendar and on the GCPS website at www.gcps.net/page/gcps-calendars.
