***NEWS RELEASE***
STEVENSVILLE, MD – Just in time for the 2025 Senior Stroll, the beloved crab sculpture outside Kent Island Elementary School (KIES) has a bold new look—thanks to a creative and collaborative makeover led by students at Stevensville Middle School (STMS).
Spearheaded by school psychologist Jo Prince and speech-language pathologist Nikki Williams, the project brought together students from STMS social groups to give back to their community through art. The initiative reflects a purposeful shift in the school’s approach to transforming classroom instruction into real-world experiences with lasting impact.
Local artist and STMS student staff member Emerson Conrad-Kriwer, under the mentorship of art teacher Holly Schrader, helped guide the artistic direction. David from Godwin’s Painting and Jason from Sherwin-Williams also helped bring this vision to life.
“We’ve been planning this project with our students all year,” said Prince. “They were involved in every step—planning, organizing, communicating, and executing the work with pride.”
Painting took place right across the street at KIES, turning the public artwork into a visible symbol of service, pride, and creative expression.
“This collaborative art project exemplifies the power of inclusive experiences to build community while providing authentic opportunities for developing language and communication skills in a supportive, real-world context,” said Joeleen Smith, Ed.S., Supervisor of Special Education.
“This is a great opportunity for students to be able to express themselves artistically, while having an opportunity to flourish socially and emotionally,” added Amy Smith, Principal of Stevensville Middle School.
The newly painted crab now stands not just as a vibrant emblem of school spirit, but as a reminder of what’s possible when students are empowered to lead, collaborate, and make a difference through the arts.
Download a PDF copy of the news release here.