The Board of Education of Charles County honored 85 employees Thursday, June 6, who have retired during the past school year or who had 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 catering by culinary students with the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and entertainment provided by a group of orchestra students playing string instruments.

Yonelle Moore Lee, Esq., chairperson of the Board of Education, said the ceremony was bittersweet. “When the kids come back in the fall, many of you will be deeply missed,” she said. Moore Lee thanked the employees for their years of service and dedication to the students of CCPS and the impact they made on their lives. “[I am] the mother of three, one of whom just graduated last year and is now flourishing due in large part to the work and dedication of many of you.”

Navarro said retirement ceremonies have become personal to her as she’s grown to know many staff members since she’s been superintendent. “I have worked very closely with a few of you for three years. I see you in the mornings, I pull you for things, I come visit your buildings,” Navarro said. “Working for the school system is one of our greatest prides — to be able to serve young people. Thank you for choosing Charles County Public Schools as a place to work.”

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

• Kelly Allston, science teacher, Theodore G. Davis Middle School.
• Theresa Alo, art teacher, North Point High School.
• Linda Bieber, kindergarten teacher, Malcolm Elementary School.
• Sonia Blue, principal, Mattawoman Middle School.
• Joseph Boswell, special education instructional assistant, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
• Charna Brooks, learning resource teacher, J.C. Parks Elementary School.
• Jonathan Brown, ROTC instructor, North Point.
• Steven Brown, building service worker, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.
•  Mary Bryant, financial secretary, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.
• Nancy Burch, physical education teacher, Thomas Stone High School.
• Kathleen Burke, compliance facilitator, Milton M. Somers Middle School.
• Kathy Cahn, science teacher, La Plata High School.
• Darrell Clark, building service worker, McDonough.
• Thomas Clements, social studies teacher, McDonough.
• Jewel Cobey, food service worker, Somers.
• Reuben Collins, in-school retention program instructional assistant, Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Michelle Craig, science teacher, St. Charles High School.
• Brenda Crowl, pre-school instructional assistant, Mary H. Matula Elementary School.
• Kimberly Daniel, elementary science teacher, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School.
• Edward Davis, mathematics teacher, General Smallwood Middle School.
• Susan Dobbs, secretary to the director of Career and Technical Education, Starkey.
• Mary Downs, business education teacher, Henry E. Lackey High School.
• Lisa Dye, events coordinator, North Point.
• Janice Earnshaw, ESOL teacher, Davis.
• Patricia Fulcher, art teacher, Westlake High School.
• Maureen Gaines Ramey, English teacher, Lackey.
• LaTonja Gentry, literacy teacher, Lackey.
• Linda Gill, Ed.D., executive director of schools, Starkey.
• Tracie Gregan, first-grade teacher, Dr. Mudd.
• Debra Hall, home economics family & consumer science teacher, North Point.
• Doris Hawkins, building service worker, Somers.
• Robin Henry, food service manager, William B. Wade Elementary School.
• Judy Hume, instructional specialist for compliance, Starkey.
• Meighan Hungerford, director of elementary education, Starkey.
• Beverley Jenkins, food service manager, Lackey.
• Sylvia Jiggetts, building service worker, Somers.
• David Johnson, building service assistant manager, Berry Elementary School.
• Dorothy Johnson, secretary, Smallwood.
• Marc Johnson, special education instructional assistant, Mary B. Neal Elementary School.
• Andre Kenan, social studies teacher, Stone.
• Theresa Kidd, food service assistant manager, Starkey.
• Kathy Kiessling, director of student services, Starkey.
• Lynn Killius, instructional resource teacher, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School.
• Virginia Kilmon, bus driver, CCPS Building 101.
• Cora Kimes, secretary, St. Charles.
• William Kreuter, supervisor of food and nutrition services, Starkey.
• Janet Malherek, college and career advisor, St. Charles.
• Ginger Mason, special education instructional assistant, Dr. Brown.
• Patricia McElhenny, reading recovery teacher, T.C. Martin Elementary School.
• Mary McGlynn, reading resource teacher, Eva Turner Elementary School.
• Glenda Miller, secretary to the principal, F.B. Gwynn Educational Center.
• Gregory Miller, principal, Parks.
• Veistella Milstead, building service assistant manager, Somers.
• David Mitchell, assistant principal, La Plata.
• Jessica Mongell, reading recovery teacher, Malcolm.
• Valerie Morris, secretary, Smallwood.
• Dennis Murphy, instrumental music teacher, Dr. James Craik Elementary School. 
• Diana Nagel, home economic family & consumer science teacher, St. Charles.
• Maria O’Connor-Buckingham, senior student data technician, Starkey.
• David O’Neill, science teacher, Henson.
• Theresa Osborne, family service coordinator, Dr. Mudd.
• Cynthia Panizzi, assistant principal, St. Charles.
• Sharon Parsee, building service manager, Berry.
• Rhonya Peterson, special education teacher, North Point.
• Jane Pilkerton, reading resource teacher, William A. Diggs Elementary School.
• Charles Proctor Jr., operations foreman, CCPS Building 101.
• Linda Ray, ROTC instructor, North Point.
• Anita Richardson, reading recovery teacher, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School.
• Diane Roberts, principal, Westlake.
• Trudy Ruffin, food service worker, North Point.
• Belinda Shade-Moore, IEP facilitator, Starkey.
• Clifton Shorter, building service manager, Somers.
• Kathy Simms, special education instructional assistant, McDonough.
• Darlette Smith, food service manager, Somers.
• Constance Sorzano, administrative instructional assistant, Martin.
• Linda Steffens, speech language pathologist, Gwynn.
• Diane Stevens, fourth-grade teacher, Neal.
• Sandra Taylor, principal, Somers.
• Marlene Tewell, secretary, Starkey.
• Arthur Turlington, HVAC mechanic III, CCPS Maintenance Shop.
• Julie Verras, reading resource teacher, Craik.
• Tina Warren, physical education teacher, St. Charles.
• Lisa Wehausen, instructional specialist, Diggs.
• Angela Wenzinger, IEP facilitator, Starkey.
• Maria Westhall, secretary to the principal, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School.
• Phyllis Whalen, building service manager, Wade.

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).