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Board honors outstanding employees for their dedication to students

The Board of Education honors outstanding employees each month for the dedication they show to students of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). At the Oct. 15 meeting, five staff members were recognized including Zarina Ameen, pupil personnel worker at Eva Turner Elementary School; Julie Andrews, science teacher at La Plata High School, Jacquelyn Burch third-grade teacher at Berry Elementary School; Donna Osakowicz, attendance secretary at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School; and Caitlin Timko, mathematics teacher at Piccowaxen Middle School.

Ameen’s 24-year career with CCPS has included several roles, including 19 years as a school counselor. Now a PPW at Turner, Ameen has also been a student support team (SST) chair, 504 coordinator, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coordinator, home and hospital coordinator and Title IX coordinator. She served as a mentor to new school counselors and trained staff in restorative practices. As a PPW, Ameen works with Turner families who are experiencing homelessness or other hardships. She started attendance clubs at three schools to ensure students are coming to school on a consistent basis. When they meet attendance goals, students are awarded with slime parties, assemblies and gatherings catered by Chick-fil-A. She recently added an incentive for parents to buy-in to making sure their children are attending school regularly. Parents are given a gift basket with household items and other essentials if their child reaches their attendance goals. “Ms. Ameen takes pride and consideration in the work she does,” Turner Principal Courtney Hrobak said. “She works tirelessly to meet the needs of students and their families while partnering with organizations to provide families with sustainable solutions to their hardships.”

Teaching science at La Plata for the past 15 years, Andrews has been the department chair for the last 12. “During this time, she has become a major contributor to the growth and success of the school community,” La Plata Principal Douglass Dolan said. Andrews has become an integral member of the school’s professional learning team (PLT), giving insight from a teacher’s perspective regarding the implementation of La Plata’s PLT plan. As the science department chair, Andrews is required to lead professional learning for the PLT. “Mrs. Andrews is a leader within her department and someone her peers recognize as a coworker they can go to with questions, concerns or suggestions,” Dolan said. Andrews sponsors the school’s Student Government Association (SGA) and organizes homecoming and spirit week activities. She oversees Battle of the Classes events and before sponsoring SGA, she coached the cheerleading team for 12 years.

Burch, a third-grade teacher at Berry, joined CCPS four years ago coming from the Prince George’s County Public Schools. Throughout her 17 years of teaching, Burch has taken on more responsibilities and quickly embraced the CCPS system becoming a model teacher. “She has created systems of communication for volunteer opportunities and parent engagement,” Berry Principal LeighAnn McLaud said. She is the third-grade team leader, a member of the PLT team, revamped the PBIS program and is the coordinator of the team, lead member of the cultural awareness committee, is an anchor teacher and created the Spanish club for students. Burch is often the first staff member to arrive in the morning and doesn’t hesitate to help colleagues. “Mrs. Burch is a champion of all teacher and students. She will go out of her way to boost morale, provide support or resources to anyone in need,” McLaud said, adding that it is not uncommon for Burch to enlist the help of her husband and son, a high school sophomore, at afterschool events. “Mrs. Burch makes an effort to develop community connections to try and strengthen our opportunities inside and outside our school building.”

Osakowicz is the attendance secretary at Higdon where her attention to detail is unmatched. She manages her job with efficacy and accuracy while building strong relationships with families. “She goes above and beyond to assist parents, showing expectational patience and dedication in every interaction,” Higdon Principal Shannon Finnegan, Ed.D., said. Osakowicz steps in to cover for coworkers and help wherever she’s needed. “Her overall supportiveness further highlights her commitment and dedication to teamwork,” Finnegan added.

At Piccowaxen, Timko is dedicated to the performance and success of her students. She plans engaging lessons that brings Illustrative Math to life and has students excited about learning. Timko has been at Piccowaxen for 18 years and is a leader in the building who builds relationships with students that allow them to feel seen and comfortable enough to take academic risks in her class. “Many students who struggle in math find success in her classroom because she sets high expectations for all her students and is patient with them as they are trying new concepts,” Piccowaxen Principal Waulanda Thenstead said. Timko is working towards earning certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and has excelled at several roles at the school including team leader and volleyball coach. “Ms. Timko is willing to try new strategies and implement new ideas by our school PLT and county instructional specialist,” Thenstead said. “She is driven and works hard to improve the lives of her students and colleagues.”

To read about students honored by the Board at the October meeting, click here.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 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 Dr. Mike Blanchard, 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).