Several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers recently earned National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The designation is an indicator of effective and accomplished teaching. This recent cohort of CCPS board-certified teachers is the largest group to achieve the designation in recent years.  

National Board Certified teacher candidates must complete a review of their skills and work that includes a portfolio, student work samples, videos and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises designed to examine the depth of their subject-matter knowledge and understanding of how to teach the material to students. 

National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) are viewed as experts in their field and are sought out for leadership positions within their respective schools. They also earn an additional annual salary stipend to reflect the certification. In a national survey conducted by the NBPTS, more than 96% of respondents reported that National Board Certification was among the top three most impactful professional development programs for teachers to advance their learning and practice. 

The following CCPS teachers achieved National Board Certification in December 2024. Teachers are listed by certification area, position and school/work location.  

• Erin Amore, Generalist/Early Childhood, second-grade teacher, Dr. James Craik Elementary School. 
• Kristina Blakeslee, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, art teacher, Maurice J. McDonough High School. 
• Stefanie Buzby, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher, St. Charles High School. 
• Rachel Clark, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, science teacher, La Plata High School. 
• Michael Colatruglio, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, social studies teacher, St. Charles. 
• Linden Coscia, Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence, resource teacher, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School.  
• Maggie Fitzgerald, World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, world language teacher, Piccowaxen Middle School. 
• Sherrie Gibney, Science/Early Adolescence, science teacher, Piccowaxen. 
• Jennifer Goddard, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence and Young Adulthood, English teacher, McDonough. 
• Melissa Hatch, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, social studies teacher, Thomas Stone High School. 
• Samantha Hayden, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, family and consumer science teacher, St. Charles. 
• Morgan Houston, Generalist/Early Childhood, first-grade teacher, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School. 
• Kailey Howard, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood, coordinator of special education, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.  
• Sara Keener, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence, English/language arts teacher, Piccowaxen. 
• Charles McCoy, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, technology education teacher, Stoddert.  
• Jessica McCoy, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence, academic mentor, Stoddert. 
• Holly Michael, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, ESOL teacher, John Hanson Middle School. 
• Chelsey Short, Generalist/Early Childhood, third-grade teacher, William B. Wade Elementary School. 
• Alicia Stahl, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, business education teacher, Westlake High School. 
• Amber Sullivan, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood, reading interventionist, Piccowaxen. 
• Caitlin Timko, Mathematics/Early Adolescence, mathematics teacher, Piccowaxen. 
• Angelisha Wells, English Language Arts/Adolescence, English teacher, Stone. 
• Nikia Williams, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, business education teacher, Westlake High School. 
• Eric Wittenbach, Physical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, physical education teacher, Milton M. Somers Middle School. 

Several CCPS teachers and administrators also hold current National Board Certification.  

• Tammy Barnes, specialist in research and assessment, Starkey.  
• Laura Buzzell, content specialist for high school mathematics, Starkey.  
• Casey Cleary, mathematics teacher, Stoddert.  
• Christina Cockerham, special education teacher, Stone.  
• A’leese Dickerson, English teacher, North Point High School.  
• Robin Droter, second-grade teacher, Mary B. Neal Elementary School.  
• Amanda Gilbert, fourth-grade teacher, Craik.  
• Matthew Golonka, content specialist in physical education, Starkey.  
• Juliana Herscher, fifth-grade teacher, T.C. Martin Elementary School.  
• Lynn Hopkins, English/language arts teacher, Piccowaxen.  
• Matthew Howard, social studies teacher, St. Charles.  
• Kathryn Jenkins, mathematics teacher, La Plata.  
• Marcie Jett, special education teacher, Piccowaxen. 
• Aparna Joshi, social studies teacher, St. Charles. 
• Michele King, instructional specialist in ESOL, Starkey.  
• Gary Lesko, principal, Somers.  
• Kelly Lundeen, third-grade teacher, Craik. 
• Sonia Matthew, Ed.D., assistant principal, Neal.  
• Daniel Meltsner, computer teacher, Hanson. 
• Pamela Mengel, third-grade teacher, Craik. 
• Kristen Modes, content specialist for gifted education, Starkey.  
• Wendie Newcamp, English/language arts teacher, Theodore G. Davis Middle School.  
• Elaine Potter, mathematics teacher, Mattawoman Middle School. 
• Jessica Pratta, social studies teacher, North Point. 
• Tiffany Rybarczyk, prekindergarten teacher, Early Learning Center, La Plata. 
• Teonna Scott, reading interventionist, Hanson. 
• Michael Serpone, social studies teacher, North Point. 
• Paige Serpone, mathematics teacher, North Point. 
• Brooke Shnipes, English teacher, La Plata.  
• Cary Smith, English teacher, North Point. 
• Mary Smith, prekindergarten teacher, Indian Head Elementary School.  
• Beth Sorsby, coordinator of elementary education, Starkey.  
• Monica Strobel, language arts teacher, Somers.  
• Jessica Tompkins, social studies teacher, Matthew Henson Middle School.  
• Melissa Veneracion, high school resource teacher, Stone.  
• Sheila White, second-grade teacher, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
• Melinda Wright, second-grade teacher, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School.  

National Board Certification is valid for five years after which a teacher may choose to remain nationally certified through the Maintenance of Certification process in five-year intervals. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future encourages teachers to earn and retain a NBCT designation with a salary increase and more opportunities for advancements while having a direct impact on students. Information about the application process is posted online at https://www.nbpts.org/ or visit https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/nbct/.  

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).