Our School
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School is a Leader in Me school. This is an opportunity to provide leadership skills to students and staff, create a leadership culture, and align leadership skills to enhance academics.
We will be learning these skills through 7 Habits the students will learn and use every day.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Get ready for an awesome year at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School!
History
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was born in Charles County, Maryland on December 20, 1833. He attended public schools in Charles County. He then attended college at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and went on to receive a medical degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He returned to Charles County to practice medicine and run the family farm. Dr. Mudd married his childhood sweetheart Sarah Dyer, and had nine children.
On April 15, 1865 he set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth who had just shot President Lincoln hours before at Ford's Theater in Washington. Booth stayed for 12 hours at Dr. Mudd's house then proceeded south into Virginia. Several days later Dr. Mudd was arrested ;and charged with conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He was tried along with the other conspirators and sentenced to life imprisonment narrowly averting the death penalty by just one vote. He was sent to Fort Jefferson Prison on Dry Tortagus Island in the Florida Keys. In 1867, a yellow fever broke out at the prison and Dr. Mudd helped save many lives during this epidemic despite the fact that, he too, had contracted the disease. A petition was signed by all of the troops at the prison citing his outstanding efforts in saving many lives. Early in 1869, President Andrew Johnson signed the pardon releasing Dr. Mudd from prison.
He came home to Charles County, and regained his medical practice. Dr. "Sam", as he was affectionately known, settled in to a quiet life on the farm. Sadly, in early 1883, he contracted pneumonia and died on January 10, 1883 at the young age of 49. However, his story does not end there. For over 130 years his descendants have fought to have his name cleared from all charges. This debate continues to this day. Despite both Presidents Carter and Reagan's statements of belief in his innocence, only the Army can overturn his conviction. Currently, there is a lawsuit pending in U.S. Circuit Court fighting for his innocence.
Mission
Our mission at Dr. Mudd is to provide an academically challenging, quality education. We will use technology embedded instruction to close the achievement gap and exceed state standards. As a school we will provide a safe environment that promotes mutual respect and responsibility between home and school.
Vision
At Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, we strive to build positive relationships within the school and community while exceeding state mandated assessment measures. The staff uses technologically embedded instruction to eliminate achievement gaps while supporting students. The vision is achieved through parental support and dedication of the staff.
Value Statement
- Children come first.
- Children are our link to the future; therefore, they are the mutual responsibility of the parents, the school, and the community.
- Staff and students have a right to a safe and secure learning environment.
- Students should recognize the intrinsic value of being a positive contributor to school and community.
- Closing the achievement gap guarantees that students leaving our school will read, write, compute, and speak to the best of their abilities.
- Staff must be knowledgeable of the County and State Educational requirements (Common Core Curriculum) in order to provide quality education and ensure students’ academic successes.
- Technology is an important educational enhancement and necessary for our students’ preparation for the future.
- Providing parents and families with the knowledge and support positively affects the students.