Margaret Marshall, a former member of the Board of Education of Charles County and retired Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teacher, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

Marshall served as a Board member for one, four-year term. She was elected to the Board in November 2014 and prior to running for the Board, Marshall served as an educator with CCPS for more than 25 years.

Marshall began her education career in 1961 at Lemmel Junior High School in Baltimore, where she taught enrichment social studies for five years. In 1966, Marshall took a fifth-grade teaching position at Rolling Knolls Elementary School in Annapolis and later taught enrichment history and English at Arundel Junior High School in Odenton. In 1970, Marshall had moved to Texas and was teaching at Westbury High School in Houston. In 1972, Marshall began teaching history, sociology and Advanced Placement (AP) courses at Seneca Valley High School in Harmony, Pa.

She remained in Pennsylvania until 1987, when she and her family moved to Charles County. For Marshall, moving to Charles County was a return to home, as she was from Charles County and a graduate of Pomonkey High School. Her husband, Cecil, also became involved in Charles County education while serving as a substitute teacher, instructional assistant, and job placement coordinator at the high school level with CCPS. Cecil also spent some time serving the Board of Education as an elected Board member from 2002 to 2006. He passed away in 2017.  

Marshall began her career with CCPS in 1987 as a social studies teacher at Thomas Stone High School. In 1988, Marshall took a social studies position at Maurice J. McDonough High School where she taught local, state and national (LSN) government and civics courses to students in Grades 9-12. Marshall also taught AP courses during her tenure at McDonough.

In 1997, Marshall sought advancement in her teaching career and took a position as an instructional resource teacher for social studies at the CCPS administrative level. In this role, her work in all areas of social studies, civics, history and government made an impact on students countywide. Marshall also served as a government remediator and assistant test coordinator.

Throughout her career, Marshall was known for her calm demeanor, passion for teaching and ability to break down the most intricate concepts, curriculum and materials in easy ways for students to both learn and remember. She treated her students with kindness and respect and made sure they understood that she was preparing them for success in the classroom and the real world.

In 2003, Marshall retired from her position with CCPS. But she continued to engage in Charles County education. She was instrumental in working with CCPS to launch a pilot intervention and teacher mentoring program to support new educators at the start of their careers. Marshall also spent some time supporting students at La Plata High School after her retirement.

Throughout her retirement and time as a Board Member, Marshall was active with the Charles County Retired School Personnel Association. She was also a member of the Pomonkey High School Alumni Association, charter member of Alpha Sigma chapter and member of Nu Zeta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. While completing her undergraduate degree at Duquesne University, Marshall was inducted into the Kappa Delta Epsilon Sorority for academic achievement. She earned her graduate degree from Loyola College in Baltimore and also completed post-graduate work through the University of San Diego.

In comments she presented at the December 2018 – one of her last as a Board member – Marshall shared that her time on the Board was special and one of the highlights of her career in working to support children. “During the past four years, the community has been supportive of me. When I look at the student liaisons in front me, I know the future is in great hands. I see their smiling faces, I hear their questions, I see their enthusiasm. And I know the future is in good hands.”

Marshall also credited her late husband with her success in being elected. “I got elected, and over the past four years I truly hope that at this point in time that Cecil can say, Margaret job well done,” she said.