St. Mary’s Standardizes Digital Learning, Saves Teachers 10+ Hours Weekly

St. Mary’s County Public Schools have long sought to provide the best technology tools for their students and educators. Their leaders took on the task of replacing a mix of disconnected classroom software platforms with more powerful integrated systems to improve digital learning for both students and staff. 

The challenge: fragmented tools – and an opportunity to foster more cohesive and impactful instruction

District leaders wanted to incorporate instructional tools that would break down the barriers that arose from a lack of standardization across different grades and classrooms. Students and families experienced inconsistency as they moved from one classroom or software program to another and educators faced challenges managing student data across different system.

“We needed a way to have consistency across the board with every school, parent, student, and staff member, where we had a one-stop shop for materials, assignments, and grades,” says Bernadette Scheetz, Supervisor of Virtual Learning and Educational Technology at SMCPS.

Their previous software’s inability to integrate with PowerSchool eSchoolPlus SIS, the district’s student information system, further complicated grading and reporting. At the same time, specialized programs—such as home and hospital instruction, virtual academies, and alternative education—required a system that could support instruction for students learning outside the traditional classroom.

The solution: an integrated learning ecosystem with Schoology Learning 

In response, SMCPS implemented Schoology Learning across grades 3–12 (also with limited use in K–2) to centralize instructional delivery, streamline communication, and build consistency across all schools and programs. Schoology, a learning management system (LMS) supporting curriculum delivery and collaboration between teachers, students, and parents, laid the groundwork for a more consistent and future-ready learning experience. 

Key elements of the district’s implementation included: 

Scalable onboarding

Curriculum supervisors and teacher leaders received training through a train-the-trainer model, which was given to all staff via a custom Schoology course covering platform navigation, assignment creation, and instructional strategies. 

Standardized course design

Teachers now use a consistent folder structure based on marking periods and weeks. This makes navigating assignments and accessing content predictable for students and families. 

Total integration

Schoology integrates seamlessly with digital textbooks and content providers such as Edpuzzle, Kami, Lumio, and Desmos. It also works with PowerSchool Performance Matters for assessments and  eSchoolPlus SIS through a weekly grade export/import process. 

Support for all learning models 

Whether a student is enrolled in a traditional classroom, the virtual academy, or alternative programming, the experience remains the same. 

“Every class, every teacher—no matter what building or program—they’re all using the same structure and tools,” says Scheetz. “That’s helped create equity in access and expectations for our students.” 

Impact and outcomes: measurable gains and meaningful change  

With the switch to Schoology, St. Mary’s began seeing multiple benefits for teachers, students, and families.  

1. 10+ hours saved per teacher, per week 

The ability to reuse and refine digital content has transformed workloads across the district. 

“Teachers are saving at least 10 hours a week,” said Scheetz. “They’re not recreating everything from scratch—they’re tweaking and adapting materials, not reinventing the wheel.” 

Staff can pull forward content from previous years, customize it for current needs, and archive everything for future use. Even better, if a change doesn’t work, teachers can revert to prior versions—no more digging through shared drives or file cabinets. 

2. Improved work-life balance for teachers 

The efficiency gains are helping restore balance for educators. 

“Our teachers aren’t staying as late. They’re not spending weekends copying packets,” Scheetz says. “They have the flexibility to manage their instruction digitally and spend their time where it matters most—on students.” 

3. Seamless access for students and families 

Students use Schoology daily to check assignments, access digital textbooks, submit work, and track grades. Absences no longer mean lost instruction—everything is accessible online. 

“If a student is out, it’s their responsibility to check Schoology,” says Scheetz. “They know exactly where to go, no matter the teacher or subject.” 

This consistency has simplified the learning experience and reduced the burden on families and staff. 

4. Streamlined communication and oversight 

Schoology serves as the district’s communication hub. Counselors and administrators use the Advisor Dashboard to monitor student progress, assist with transitions, and support intervention efforts, giving them deeper insights into the whole child. 

“Our pupil personnel workers and counselors rely on the dashboard. They use it to run reports, mentor students, and get a real-time view into performance,” Scheetz says. 

District communications—such as newsletters and updates—are also shared through Schoology and tailored by the school and audience. 

5. Flexible professional development and AI readiness 

Schoology is also key in delivering staff PD, including emerging topics like AI literacy. Recently, SMCPS used Schoology’s template and update tools to create an AI readiness course for staff, helping establish shared understanding and responsible use of AI in the classroom. 

The district is also looking into PowerSchool PowerBuddy™ for Learning, an AI-powered assistant within Schoology Learning to support creating and delivering quality learning experiences and personalized student support. 

A sustainable model for modern learning 

St. Mary’s switch to Schoology ignited a digital learning strategy that supports every student, every day, in every setting. Schoology has become the district’s digital backbone of instruction, serving as a centralized hub for instruction, grading, communication, and content delivery regardless of where or how students learn.  

“Schoology has allowed us to build a stable, future-ready instructional ecosystem,” said Scheetz. “We’ve standardized the learning experience, saved time and money, and empowered our teachers to focus on what they do best—teaching.” 

With its commitment to equity, innovation, and sustainability, St. Mary’s County Public Schools is showing what’s possible when the right tools and vision come together.