Waldorf, Maryland – Glymont Middle School students participating in the Chronic Absenteeism Termination (CAT) program recently hosted a meeting with Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., district staff, and representatives from the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office to discuss the initiative’s progress and impact on attendance.
The gathering, held last month at the school in Waldorf, included Kaprece James, CEO of Stella’s Girls Inc.; Glymont Principal Orlena Whatley; State’s Attorney Tony Covington; Abena McAllister, director of criminal justice reform initiatives in the State’s Attorney’s Office; Sambrina Kelly, Stella’s Girls program coordinator; and SAO Chief Investigator Ted Jones. Charles Gammons, CCPS student engagement and conduct office specialist, and Neal Bankenstein, pupil personnel worker at Glymont, also supported the program’s efforts.
CAT serves as a targeted intervention at Glymont Middle School, selected as the pilot site after research by the State’s Attorney’s Office identified it as a school that could benefit from focused attendance support. The program identifies underlying barriers to regular school attendance and tardiness, then collaborates with students to develop personalized success plans. Participants learn about the value of consistent attendance and receive incentives to encourage improvement.
Covington explained the program’s emphasis on decision-making. “We talk to a thousand kids a year talking about choices and this is the focus that we wanted to have with the program as well,” he said. “We want them to think about the choices they make.”
Whatley expressed appreciation for the partnership. “I’m glad that we were able to do this here,” she said. She noted that the proactive strategy has resonated with students. “The proactive approach has stuck with some of our students,” Whatley added.
Glymont staff worked with the State’s Attorney’s Office to address root causes of absenteeism. Whatley described the process: “We started to peel back the layers and see what the problems were for some of the students as to why they were not coming to school.” Common issues included needs at home that hindered attendance. One practical response was adding a laundromat to the school to reduce household burdens for families. Whatley said the addition aimed to demonstrate the school’s commitment to supporting students and families, leading to greater parental involvement and program success.
Students shared firsthand benefits during the meeting. Amar Love, a sixth-grade participant, said, “I like the program. It helps me stay in school and my grades have boosted.”
The CAT initiative draws support from Stella’s Girls Inc., which provides mentoring and community resources, alongside CCPS personnel focused on student engagement and pupil services. The collaboration reflects a multi-agency approach to reducing chronic absenteeism by addressing both school-based and home-based factors.
Glymont Middle School continues to implement CAT as a pilot, with potential for expansion based on outcomes. The program aligns with broader CCPS goals to improve attendance, academic performance, and student well-being in Charles County public schools.