On Anne Arundel County’s first day of school, Superintendent Mark Bedell and other education officials visited Tyler Heights Elementary School to greet students on Monday.

“We’ve got a lot of energy right now in Anne Arundel County,” Bedell said. “I’ve opened up school as a superintendent for nine years, and I’ve never seen this kind of energy from a staff about the start of the school year.”

Bedell was joined by State Superintendent Carey Wright, President of the State Board of Education Joshua Michael, and Board of Education District 6 representative Joanna Bache Tobin as Principal Julia Walsh gave a look inside two second grade classrooms. Bedell said they chose to visit Tyler Heights because it is a dual language as well as a community school.

Tyler Heights is the only dual language school in the district, meaning they educate in both English and Spanish. 93% of students come from Spanish-speaking families.

“There’s nothing more exciting than the first day of school, so my heart is absolutely full today,” said Wright. “Having a dual language program like this speaks volumes because it’s changing the world we live in.”

“It’s also a school that is doing wonderful things for our kids, socially, emotionally and academically,” Bedell said.

Tyler Heights is also one of 38 community schools in Anne Arundel County funded through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, legislation designed to improve education for those who have been historically underserved.

There are only two bus routes because nearly all Tyler Heights students live within walking distance. 96% of students are on the school system’s free and reduced lunch program, and Tyler Heights offers parenting classes, food, clothing, and other supplies at the “Tyler Heights Community Market.”

“Anytime parents come to an event here, they’re able to leave with fresh fruits and vegetables, along with diapers,” Walsh said.

When the first bus arrived at Tyler Heights Monday, it dropped the students off, and the driver turned around to run her route again, looking for students who may have missed the bus because it was the first day.

“She did it without being asked to do so,” Bedell said after talking with the bus driver. “They are the first and last line of defense. How bus drivers and aides greet students sets the tone before they even get here.”

Elementary school students as well as sixth and ninth grade students had their first day on Monday, while the remaining grades start today.

Two new schools are opening in the county this year. Severn Run High School held a ribbon-cutting on Saturday while Two Rivers Elementary had its ribbon-cutting celebration on Monday, with students starting today.