Members of the Greater Crofton Chamber of Commerce celebrated American Education Week this month by visiting local schools. Members from a variety of backgrounds met with principals, received tours of the building, and sat down with administrators to discuss achievements and challenges.

Each principal was presented with a gift basket with goodies donated by chamber members.

The visits were coordinated by the Chamber's new Education Committee, who will use the information gathered from the meetings to establish their mission, goals, and activities for the upcoming new year.

Alexis Lecouras of Edward Jones in Crofton was a team member visiting Crofton Middle School. "Fiirst off, I am very impressed," he said. "This seems to be a fantastic school, and Crofton is very fortunate to have it."

Many of the business visitors hadn't been in a school building for years. "This is probably the first time I have traveled school hallways since I was a student," said Crofton Curves owner Lisa Gritti. "Things have really changed, but in a good way."

"This has been an eye-opening experience for many of our chamber visitors," said Laura Tayman, Suburban Scene publisher and chair of the chamber's Education Committee. "We are coming up with new ways that the business community can actively support the educational process for our future employees and entrepreneurs."

To view a photo, click on the thumbnail. All photos by Laura Tayman for Suburban Scene.



Captions

Row 1
a)  A sign welcomes Chamber members to their visit at Crofton Meadows Elementary School.
b)  Members of the Chamber team, including Ginny Woody of The Washington Savings Bank, Joyce Obear of Obear Accounting, State Senator Ed Reilly, and Jerry Walker of DCA Imaging, provide a gift basket to principal Janine Robinson. Missing in the photo are team members Martha Brown of Long & Foster and Patrick Maslar of Family Veterinary Clinic.
c)  Team members meet with Principal Robinson to hear of her school's achievements, needs and challenges.
d)  Senator Reilly visits with Mr. Mills' third grade class.

Row 2
a)  Senator Reilly provides students with an example of legislative representation in Mrs. Galvin's class.
b)  Principal Sharon Hansen is provided her gift basket from chamber team members Alexis Lecouras of Edward Jones, Lisa Gritti of Crofton Curves, Jerry Walker of DCA Imaging, and Chien Vuong of Vuong's Martial Arts.
c)  Mrs. Hansen provides information on how local businesses could become more involved with Crofton Middle School.
d)  Mrs. Hansen provides a tour of the building for team members.

Row 3
a)  John Barzal welcomes team members to Crofton Woods Elementary.
b)  Mr. Barzal accepts the team's gift basket at the start of the visit.
c)  Team members ask Mr. Barzal questions after the school building tour, which included some of the new clsoed space classrooms.