The Board of Education of Charles County honored employees June 5 who have retired during the past school year or who have notified Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., that they plan to retire at the end of this school year. A retirement ceremony was held at North Point High School with entertainment provided by a group of orchestra students playing string instruments.

“I have to say, the longer that I’m here, the more that this is a bittersweet reception and celebration. Sometimes I don’t want to celebrate,” Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.,D., said. “There are some of you around here that I’m supposed to say I’m happy you’re leaving and retiring. And I have to say — I don’t want you to go. I’m excited for you to spend more time with your loved ones and do the things you want to do. But there is always an immense amount of knowledge and wisdom that leaves us, as well.”

Yonelle Moore Lee, Esq., Board chairperson, said the evening was about legacy. “Each of you has contributed more than just hours and effort. You’ve shaped minds, lifted spirits, built futures and left a lasting mark on generations of children, families and us,” she said. “I want to say thank you. Not only for your years of dedicated service but for the quiet moments of impact that most people will never see.”

Retirees are listed by their name, last position and last location where they served.

• Clyde Abbey, building service manager, Eva Turner Elementary School.
• Mildred Alexander-Moses, pupil personnel worker (PPW), Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Brian Ball, building automation manager, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.
• James Barnes Sr., building service worker, Piccowaxen Middle School.
• Sharon Bautista, data technician, La Plata High School.
• Jack Belle, instructional resource teacher, Starkey,
• David Bradshaw, physical education teacher, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
• Anne Braun, food service worker, Berry Elementary School.
• Cynthia Brown, instructional assistant, La Plata.
• Rebecca Bursheim-LaFontant, instructional assistant, William A. Diggs Elementary School.
• Dianne Claggett, instructional assistant, Thomas Stone High School.
• Maxine Coe, instructional assistant, Westlake High School.
• Anecita Conner, building service worker, Milton M. Somers Middle School.
• Mary Cook, human resources generalist, Starkey.
• Hattie Cummings, fourth-grade teacher, Indian Head Elementary School.
• Bethany Cusic, college and career advisor, McDonough.
• Virginia Cusick, physical therapist, F.B. Gwynn Educational Center.   
• Jennifer DeAtley, reading resource teacher, Berry.
• Beverly Deniston, special education teacher, Theodore G. Davis Middle School.
• Garcia Dixon, supervising PPW, Starkey.
• Ruth “Shannon” Finnegan, Ed.D., principal, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
• Diane Fiorilla, prekindergarten teacher, Mary H. Matula Elementary School.
• Cathy Fleming, instructional assistant, North Point High School.
• Alan Freeman, music teacher, Henry E. Lackey High School.
• Patrick Ganter, physical education teacher, Piccowaxen.
• Teresa Getgen, physical education teacher, La Plata.
• Judith Gordon, instructional specialist, William B. Wade Elementary School.
• Beverly Gunn, kindergarten instructional assistant, Higdon.
• Hollis Hay, family and consumer science teacher, Thomas Stone.
• Richard Hicks, HVAC mechanic, maintenance shop.
• Deborah Holder, reading resource teacher, Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Jennifer Jenkins, instructional assistant, Matula.
• Cornelia Jerman-Webb, special education IA, Gale-Bailey Elementary School.
• Marvin Jones, Ed.D., chief of schools.
• Charles Kelly, foreman, maintenance shop.
• William Kreuter, supervisor of food service, Starkey.
• Mary Long, instructional assistant, Piccowaxen.
• Susan Lucas, secretary to the principal, Thomas Stone.
• Michael Meiser, school safety administrator, Starkey.
• Donna Mitchell, mathematics teacher, North Point.
• Anne Morgan, instructional assistant, J.C. Parks Elementary School.
• Vicki Opiekun, fourth-grade teacher, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School.
• Norman Patterson, building service assistant manager, Wade.
• Clifton Posey, building service manager, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School.
• Denise Pratt, music teacher, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School.
• Carroll Proctor, building service assistant manager, Diggs.
• William Reamy, English language development (ELD) teacher, Thomas Stone.
• Carolyn “Carrie” Richardson, principal, Matula.
• Mary Beth Ritchie, prekindergarten teacher, Brown.
• Michelle Sains, third-grade teacher, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy.
• Paula Schiller, teacher with Infants and Toddlers program, Gwynn.
• Teresa Schinasi, fourth-grade teacher, Dr. James Craik Elementary School.
• Stephanie Shanholtzer, second-grade teacher, Wade.
• Deborah Simmons, mathematics teacher, Piccowaxen.
• Maurice Smith, mathematics teacher, Mattawoman Middle School.
• Kim Smoot, food service worker, Brown.
• James Earl Swann, building service manager, La Plata.
• Jack Tuttle, content specialist for social studies, Starkey.
• Maria Unzicker, special education IA, St. Charles High School.
• Laura Verga, English language development (ELD) teacher, Jenifer.
• Ivy Wade, instructional assistant, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School.
• Troy Wade, building service worker, Wade.
• Corey Watson, building service assistant manager, Eva Turner Elementary School.
• Jennifer Weaver, psychologist, Berry.
• Richard Weis, special education teacher, Piccowaxen.
• Judith Welch, instructional assistant, Craik.

The Charles County Retired School Personnel Association (CCRSPA) is a serve organization made up of retired employees of CCPS. To learn more about the association, visit https://ccrspa.wixsite.com/site. 

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 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).