Stinnett celebrates eight Chimes School graduates in Baltimore City

Eight Chimes School students crossed the stage in Baltimore City as Delegate Sean Stinnett joined families and staff to mark a milestone that carried more weight than a routine graduation photo. For the students at the center of the ceremony, the event highlighted a transition that Chimes says is built into every part of its program: academics, vocational preparation, social skills and support for what comes next.

The Chimes School, at 4810 Seton Drive in Baltimore, serves students ages 5 to 21 with autism, intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities, including emotional and behavioral challenges. It offers diploma tracks through grade 8 and certificate tracks through grade 12 in an 11-month program. The school says its work is centered on functional academics, work-related skills, social skills development and transition support, with referrals coming from all local jurisdictions.

That broader mission is reflected in the building itself. Chimes says its fully accessible campus includes a gym, library, woodshop, greenhouse, independent living apartment, kitchen area, three multi-sensory rooms and an Outdoor Adaptive Therapeutic Center. The school also points to smaller class sizes, higher staff-to-student ratios and related services that include nursing, counseling, social work and in-home behavioral consultation. For Baltimore families navigating school placement and adult transition planning, those details are not ceremonial. They are the infrastructure that makes graduation possible.

Stinnett, who represents District 41 in the Maryland House of Delegates and has served since March 3, 2025, is a Baltimore native and former Baltimore City Public Schools student. The Maryland State Archives says he is deputy majority whip in 2026 and has a background in city government and public procurement. His presence at Chimes placed a local elected official inside a setting where public policy, disability services and education meet in practical ways, especially for students whose needs are not met by conventional school models.

Chimes publicly thanked Stinnett for attending the 2025 graduation, along with Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol Beatty. The school has also recognized other officials, including Roland Douglass and Korri Walsh, at past ceremonies, underscoring that its graduation has become a regular moment for state and local leaders to show where they stand on disability services in Baltimore City. For the graduates and their families, the real measure will be whether that attention continues to translate into transition support, educational access and sustained resources after the applause ends.