Several Charles County Public School (CCPS) students, teachers, content specialists and directors will be recognized during a Feb. 27 ceremony for their accomplishments in gifted education. The Maryland State Gifted & Talented Advisory Council and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) are hosting the ceremony at North County High School in Glen Burnie.

Students were nominated by the learning resource teachers at their schools, who work with students enrolled in gifted or honors courses. Student criteria for recognition includes academic performance at a high level, being a current recipient of a school system, state or national award, and participation in a gifted education program. Each student will receive a Student Accomplishment in Gifted and Talented Education Award. They are:

C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School

• Yatzil Ingles Amaya, fourth grade.
• Joshua Tyson, fifth grade.

Berry Elementary School

• Jason Chen, fifth grade.
• Charlotte Fenton, fourth grade.
• Aiden Parkar, fifth grade.
• Alelia Pillera, fourth grade.

Billingsley Elementary School

• Caleb Eure, fifth grade.

Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School

• Idalia Estrada, fifth grade.

Dr. James Craik Elementary School

• Elsie Gibney, fifth grade.
• Logan Smith, fifth grade.

Gale-Bailey Elementary School

• Benjamin Burns, fifth grade.

William A. Diggs Elementary School

• Kassidy Kristafey Villanueva, fifth grade.

Indian Head Elementary School

• Eva Klumb, fifth grade.

Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School

• Savannah Alberts, fifth grade.
• Chelsea Anyanwu, fifth grade.
• Emma Shanbarger, fifth grade.

J.C. Parks Elementary School

• Yahya Ziden, fourth grade.

Malcolm Elementary School

• Gabriel Niklas, fifth grade.

Mary B. Neal Elementary School

• Kenzo Evans, fifth grade.
• Jan Margaux Magauay, fourth grade.
• Oluwadarasimi Odubena, fourth grade.

Mary H. Matula Elementary School

• Madison Dunn, fifth grade.
• Jason Falkler, fifth grade.
• Roman Gibala, fifth grade.
• Desmond Warner, fifth grade.
• Olivia Weng, fifth grade.

Arthur Middleton Elementary School

• Rae Diarra, fifth grade.

Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School

• Grant Chappelle, fourth grade.
• Hailey Cook, fifth grade.
• Tamlyn Hopkins, fifth grade.
• Robert Linn, fourth grade.
• Nora Moss, fourth grade.

William B. Wade Elementary School

• David Kevin Trout, fifth grade.

Theodore G. Davis Middle School

• Colin Finley, eighth grade.

Piccowaxen Middle School

• Evelyn Bedell, sixth grade.
• Paul Blachek, eighth grade.
• Elise Jennings, sixth grade.
• Elijah Merkle, eighth grade.
• Troy Pettersen, sixth grade.
• Karis Pilkerton, eighth grade.
• Kai Scott, eighth grade.
• Marcellus White, eighth grade.

Phoenix International School of the Arts

• Londyn Lalanne, eighth grade.

General Smallwood Middle School

• Alegra Silva-Jimenez, sixth grade.

Milton M. Somers Middle School

• Myka Rizor, sixth grade.
• Ariella Myers, sixth grade.
• Jackson Heise, sixth grade.
• Karina Elliott, seventh grade.

Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

• Logan Boswell, eighth grade.
• Rhys Carlin, seventh grade.

Learning resource teachers were nominated by the CCPS Office of Gifted Education and teachers were nominated by the learning resource teachers at their schools. Teacher criteria for recognition includes working directly with gifted and talented students, addressing the needs of gifted and talented students beyond the required expectations, pursuing ongoing professional learning, and demonstrating peer leadership in gifted and talented education. Each teacher will receive a Teacher Accomplishment in Gifted and Talented Education Award. They are Nicholas Gardiner, a fifth-grade teacher at T.C. Martin Elementary School, Sherrie Gibney, a sixth-grade science teacher at Piccowaxen, Gemma Phillips, learning resource teacher at Martin, Joseph Rubilotta, learning resource teacher at Billingsley and Fara Walent, seventh-grade language arts teacher at Somers.

Content specialists were nominated by the CCPS Office of Gifted Education. Criteria for recognition includes supporting access and implementation of gifted and talented, and/or advanced curriculum, pursuing professional learning, and demonstrating peer leadership in gifted and talented education and/or advanced curriculum. Each content specialist will receive a Non-Classroom Based Educator Accomplishment in Gifted and Talented Education Award. They are Leigh Ann Anderson, a science resource teacher for Grades kindergarten through eighth grade, Ian Buter, a content specialist for science, Latisha Burks, a content specialist for high school English, Laura Buzzell, a content specialist for high school mathematics and Allen Hopkins, a social studies resource teacher for Grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

Meighan Hungerford, director of elementary education, and Melissa Miesowitz, director of secondary education, were nominated by the CCPS Office of Gifted Education for their leadership in expanding and improving programs and services for gifted and talented students while allocating resources to gifted and talented programs, and leading the expansion or improvement of parent and community partnerships in support of GT students and programs. 

The awards ceremony will be 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27, at North County High School in Glen Burnie. CCPS students Tamlyn Hopkins and Alelia Pillera will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the awards ceremony. Click here to RSVP using Google Forms.