PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is redefining student engagement and learning through its RISE Project-Based Learning (PBL) program, an initiative that has grown rapidly since its launch in the 2022-2023 school year.
The RISE PBL professional learning pathway was established by Scott McComb, now the director of system and instructional performance, as part of the Re-Imagining Student Engagement (RISE) grant for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The program trains a new cohort of teachers each August in the essential elements and framework of the PBL instructional approach.
The RISE PBL program builds on the initial training with job-embedded, ongoing professional learning and collaboration through monthly meetings during the school year. Teachers in the PBL pathway have developed projects aligned with curriculum content and skill standards that challenge students to collaborate with community partners. These projects help students hone 21st-century skills such as research, presentation, and professionalism, culminating in a meaningful public product that reflects their learning and makes a positive impact on the community.
A New Approach to Learning
“Project-based learning takes the traditional approach to education and infuses it with authenticity,” said Ashley Curtin, RISE program lead. “Students are challenged to create a solution to a driving question, knowing they will produce something meaningful for a community partner or their school.”
RISE teachers receive intensive training in the framework of project-based learning, supported by ongoing collaboration and professional development sessions. The program’s reach has expanded to include educators in K-12 general education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and specialized subjects such as Spanish, health sciences, and engineering.
In June 2024, Carrie Akins, director of career technical education (CTE), established the RISE PBL program under the career technical education umbrella to sustain the PBL PD pathway. The program has since expanded to include instructors across the district’s 24 CTE programs, with plans to incorporate additional CTE classrooms in the future.
Projects Making an Impact
The RISE program has facilitated several notable projects, each tailored to the curriculum while addressing real-world issues.
“Eat Your Problems” – Tackling Invasive Species
At Mill Creek Middle School, eighth-grade science students confronted the ecological challenge of invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River through a project titled “Eat Your Problems.” Students learned about human and environmental interactions through the lens of state curriculum, then applied their knowledge to create public awareness materials.
Students worked in teams to design posters and digital flyers that educated the community about specific invasive fish species, including their origin, the ecological damage they cause, and how they could be mitigated. Each flyer included a QR code linking to student-designed websites, which provided recipes for cooking the invasive fish.
The culinary aspect of the project involved a collaboration with Career and Technology Academy culinary program. Culinary students developed simple, replicable recipes using locally sourced invasive fish and presented their dishes to science teachers and school staff. Photos and videos of these dishes were then featured on the eighth graders’ posters.
The project culminated in public presentations on Dec. 17, 2024, with students pitching their posters to local restaurant owners, community leaders, and school officials.
“They had to know that backwards and forwards to be able to design these projects and talk about them effectively when they present it,” Curtin explained. “They were using it for a purpose, to really advocate for their solution, and their design.”
Bottle Refilling Stations at St. Leonard Elementary
At St. Leonard Elementary, third-grade students tackled the problem of single-use plastic waste by advocating for an additional water bottle refilling station in their school. Inspired by their science curriculum on reducing human impact on the environment, the project incorporated research, public speaking, and advocacy skills.
Students worked in teams to explore different angles of the issue. One group highlighted the environmental benefits of reducing single-use plastics, focusing on the harm to local wildlife, such as terrapins. Another group addressed the logistical challenge of having only one station, noting that long lines caused students to lose instructional time.
One particularly innovative team interviewed custodial staff to understand the burden of cleaning up spills near the existing station, using this information to strengthen their argument. Students presented their findings to school administrators, successfully advocating for the installation of an additional refilling station.
Sharing Mesoamerican Cultural Information Lessons at Windy Hill Middle School
Seventh-grade students at Windy Hill Middle School, guided by social studies teacher Caitlin Reid, created children’s books about Mesoamerican cultures to share with elementary students, reinforcing first-graders’ lessons on informational texts. The project was a cross-grade and cross-curricular collaboration involving first-grade teachers and students at Windy Hill Elementary, seventh graders at Windy Hill Middle, and Spanish students at Huntingtown High School. PBL cohort member and digital learning specialist Kris Gutherie also contributed, helping students refine their presentation skills and use digital tools effectively. The project culminated in a walking field trip to Windy Hill Elementary, where seventh graders read their books and shared their knowledge with first-grade students.
Vape Detectors at Calvert High School
At Calvert High School, students in an AP European History class used historical labor movements as inspiration to address a contemporary issue: vaping.
Students formed working groups to research the prevalence of vaping in schools, its impact on learning environments, and potential solutions. One group proposed installing vape detectors and investigated specific models used in other districts. They analyzed the school’s budget, identifying unspent COVID relief funds that could be used for the initiative.
Their detailed presentation to the Calvert County Board of Education included data, cost analysis, and potential benefits, leading to a pilot program for vape detectors at Calvert High.
Community Involvement Encouraged
Curtin emphasized the importance of community partnerships in making the projects successful.
“We’ve had parents come in as community members to share their skills and expertise,” she said. “If you’re a community member interested in working with schools, I’d be happy to have a conversation about what you could bring to a classroom.”
The RISE program has trained over 66 educators and continues to inspire innovative learning experiences in Calvert County classrooms. With its emphasis on real-world application and community impact, RISE is setting a new standard for project-based learning in Maryland schools.
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