The Board of Education at its March 14 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. Students are honored for accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility.

Honored were Leilani Bynaker of Indian Head Elementary School, Kie Myers of Billingsley Elementary School, Zamira Rodriguez of Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, Alexandra “Alex” Powell of Theodore G. Davis Middle School and Sean Lattany of Westlake High School.

Bynaker is a fifth grade student at Indian Head and was recognized for career readiness. She has attended Indian Head since kindergarten and has earned honor roll every quarter. Her favorite subject in school is reading and she loves to read in her free time, especially the series, “Baby-Sitters Club.” She consistently comes to school each day ready to learn and demonstrates academic discipline by completing class work and assignments on time, Principal Shane Blandford said. “She exhibits a growth mindset and engages in self-reflection of her learning often. Leilani is constantly checking in with her various teachers to ensure she is pushing herself to achieve her fullest potential,” Blandford said. When Bynaker grows up, she wants to be a pediatrician. “I want to be the first doctor in my family,” she said.  

A fifth grader at Billingsley, Myers was recognized for academic achievement. He has been a student at Billingsley since the doors opened in 2019 when he was in the second grade at that time. With his natural love of learning, Myers was identified for gifted services in both reading and math. Myers has been an honor roll student since earning traditional grades, beginning with third grade. He likes all academic and all special area subjects equally. “School is his happy place,” Principal Sabrina Robinson-Taylor said. He consistently demonstrates strong personal responsibility and excellent work habits. “He is a thoughtful, kind, respectful and knowledgeable young man,” Robinson-Taylor said. “He is always willing to help his peers and teachers.” Myers’ character is consistent, even when no one is looking which makes him a strong academic role model for his peers. He is a member of Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA), VEX IQ Robotics, fifth-grade math team and chess club. He is a safety patrol and plays percussion in the school band. Outside of school, he is learning guitar and piano. Myers attends church with this family and enjoys learning about the Bible.

Rodriguez is a fifth grade student at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy and was recognized for academic achievement. Rodriguez has attended Mt. Hope since the fourth grade and has earned honor roll grades every quarter.  She scored in the mid-fifth grade level on the iReady diagnostic assessment, is reading above grade level and scored proficient on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) in reading and math. While she is quiet, Rodriguez has a strong personality. “She works hard, asks questions for understanding and is constantly working to improve her academics,” Principal Michael Hoffman said. “Zamira is always willing to help her classmates and is a great example of personal responsibility.” Rodriguez is active in the school’s MESA team, the fifth-grade math team, the STEM Rocket Club and orchestra.

Powell — who goes by Alex at Davis — is an eighth grade student who was honored by the Board for academic achievement. During middle school, Powell has maintained a 4.0 grade point average — first as a student at Matthew Henson Middle School before she transferred to Davis at the start of this school year. In addition to Powell’s stellar grades, she participates in Davis’s orchestra playing the violin and has expressed an interest in playing piano next year. Powell is active in other activities at Davis. “Alex is a member of National Junior Honor Society, and she made the school’s basketball team this year,” Principal Robert Griffiths said. In her spare time, she has started a nonprofit organization, raising money for water bottles for people who are unhoused and does charity work including collecting coats for kids in need. Powell is planning to be a forensic scientist when she grows up and looks forward to studying biology in high school.

A senior at Westlake, Lattany was recognized for personal responsibility. His school’s motto is Learners Today; Leaders Tomorrow and he embodies it. “He understands that effective leadership is not a position, but service and responsibility,” Principal Diane Roberts said. “Because of Sean’s daily interactions and acts of service, he was chosen for board recognition.” Members of Westlake staff shared that Lattany is the true definition of a phenomenal student. “He is always punctual, communicates effectively and takes care of business,” Roberts said. He comes to class fully prepared and even makes sure that his classmates have everything they need to be successful in the learning environment. Lattany is responsible and it is reflected in his grades. “He is a true scholar and leader who is willing to do the small things to be great in the classroom,” Roberts said. Lattany is often found with a smile on his face and is kind to his peers and the staff at Westlake. “Sean is the kind of student that every teacher can count on to do the right thing and to be honest and genuine with his answers,” Roberts said. “Sean is a student that will be remembered for years to come.”

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).