Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is seeking nominations for its annual Be the Difference Awards program. The Be the Difference Awards were launched in 2018 to recognize the outstanding contributions school volunteers make to CCPS, students and staff.

The awards program has five award categories including elementary school parent volunteer, middle school parent volunteer, high school parent volunteer, Charles County business volunteer and community organization volunteer. Nominations are due by May 15.

Employees of CCPS and members of the Board of Education of Charles County and their families are ineligible for nomination.

The nomination steps are as follows:

• Fill out and submit the nomination form at https://forms.office.com/r/PX5bAZMazq.
• Prepare a nomination letter that includes a brief description of the type and quality of the volunteer's service. Describe the impact the volunteer’s services have had on the CCPS community. The nomination letter should not exceed 300 words.
• Obtain and include two letters of support from two individuals other than the nominator. Please include the author’s relationship to the nominee/knowledge of the volunteer’s service. The support letters cannot serve as both a letter of support and the nomination. 

The nomination letter and support letters should be emailed to sroyster@ccboe.com or mailed to Sylvia Royster, c/o Be the Difference Award Subcommittee, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646.  The nomination form and letter, and support letters must be received by May 15.

The Be the Difference Awards ceremony is typically held in June. To learn more about volunteering with CCPS, visit https://www.ccboe.com/parents/volunteer-information. All volunteers undergo training and a background check that are valid for one school year. There is no cost to the volunteer for the background check.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).