The Board of Education of Charles County and Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro, Ed.D., honored several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees on March 20 for their years of service to the school system and commitment to education during a ceremony held at North Point High School. Honored were employees with careers that span a period of 45, 40, 35, 30 and 25 years.

Varlenia McCoy-Scott, a business education teacher at Henry E. Lackey High School, was honored for her 45 years with CCPS, while Pomie Radcliff was recognized for 40 years of service.

The Board of Education of Charles County and Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro, Ed.D., honored several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees on March 20 for their years of service to the school system and commitment to education during a ceremony held at North Point High School. Honored were employees with careers that span a period of 45, 40, 35, 30 and 25 years.

Varlenia McCoy-Scott, a business education teacher at Henry E. Lackey High School, was honored for her 45 years with CCPS, while Pomie Radcliff was recognized for 40 years of service.

After high school, McCoy-Scott wanted to study nursing, but soon switched her major to business education while at the University of the District of Columbia. When she learned that if she added a few more classes, she could get an education degree allowing her to teach business education, she went for it. McCoy-Scott has spent the past 45 years teaching at Lackey. She’s seen a lot change in that time. “From typewriters to laptops,” she said. “Accounting used to be done with pencil and paper, now of course it’s done on computers.”

With a career spent at the same school, McCoy-Scott has taught generations of families. “Some of my kids, they have grandkids here now,” she said.

“I enjoy it,” McCoy-Scott said of working with students.

A physical education teacher at Mary H. Matula Elementary School, Radcliff said she was inspired to go into the field thanks to the encouragement of family members and former teachers. “Yes, Mary H. Matula was one of the former teachers,” Radcliff said.

She began her career at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School where she  taught PE for eight years before making the move to Matula in 1992 when the school opened. She has also coached at La Plata High School for 20 years.

Since the start of her career, the landscape of education has changed. “When I look back over the years, technology and growth are at the top of my list,” Radcliff said. “Technology has truly transformed the way teachers communicate and deliver instruction.”

Fourteen new schools have been built in the county since Radcliffe has been with CCPS — but some things don’t change.

Her favorite part of the job has always been working with students. “By providing them the skills and knowledge of physical activity and health benefits, watching each student gain confidence in themselves, master a new skill, problem solve, be part of a team and grow is truly priceless,” she said. “I feel teaching children — especially physical education — keeps you young at heart and healthy. There is never a dull moment, and each day is never the same.” 

Employee with 45 years of service

• Varlenia McCoy-Scott, business education teacher, Henry E. Lackey High School.

Employee with 40 years of service

• Pomie Radcliff, physical education teacher, Mary H. Matula Elementary School.

Employees with 35 years of service

• Theresa Alo, art teacher, North Point High School.
• Elaine Coombs, special education teacher, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School.
• Ann Fabian, job placement coordinator, Thomas Stone High School.
• Dorothy Gannon, second-grade teacher, Billingsley Elementary School.
• Bridgette Greathouse, food service worker, Milton M. Somers Middle School.
• Pamela Hawkins, building service manager, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
• Cynthia McRoy, purchasing analyst, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.
• Wendy Wenk, food service worker, La Plata High School.

Employees with 30 years of service

• Sean Anderson, mathematics teacher, General Smallwood Middle School.
• James Ball, art teacher, North Point.
• Christopher Butler, athletic director, La Plata.
• Keith Gascon, electrical construction teacher, North Point.
• Judith Gordon, instructional specialist, William B. Wade Elementary School.
• Lenora Green, coordinator of special education, Starkey.
• Richard Hicks, HVAC mechanic, maintenance shop.
• Kimberly Hudler, elementary reading content specialist, Starkey.
• John Lancaster, building service manager, John Hanson Middle School.
• Deborah Sheriff, instructional assistant in reading, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School.

Employees with 25 years of service

• Jennifer Anderson, language arts teacher, Somers.
• Brian Ball, building automation manager, Starkey.
• Jennifer Blakley, secretary to the principal, Dr. James Craik Elementary School.
• Shane Blandford, principal, Indian Head Elementary School.
• Heather Davie, fifth-grade teacher, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School.
• Michael Forrest, science teacher, Matthew Henson Middle School.
• Katrina Garvey, secretary to the principal, Mary B. Neal Elementary School.
• Linda Hayden, first-grade teacher, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School.
• Ann Herbert, prekindergarten teacher, Gale-Bailey Elementary School.
• Juliana Herscher, first-grade teacher, T.C. Martin Elementary School.
• Deborah Holder, reading resource teacher, Henson.
• Cheryl Hurst, accounting assistant, Starkey.
• Douglas Lamb, assistant principal, Piccowaxen Middle School.
• Raymond Lancaster, operations foreman, Annex I — Building 101.
• Kerri Loyd, assistant principal, Stone.
• Michelle Mazur, special education resource teacher, Dr. Mudd.
• Sarah Milman, kindergarten teacher, Wade.
• Traci Parham, mathematics teacher, Somers.
• Meredith Parsons, second-grade teacher, William A. Diggs Elementary School.
• Carl Pascarella, assistant principal, North Point.
• Karen Peters, coordinator of testing, Starkey.
• Charles Proctor, building service worker, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
• Susan Reedy, kindergarten teacher, Neal.
• Sabrina Robinson-Taylor, principal, Billingsley.
• Mary Rodgers-Finneran, second-grade teacher, Mitchell.
• Karen Smith, music teacher, North Point.
• John Stine, network engineer, Starkey.
• Tammy Tomasello, social studies teacher, Stone.
• John Tompkins, English and language arts content specialist, Starkey.
• Melissa Veneracion, resource teacher, Stone.
• William Waddell, virtual social studies teacher, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.
• Leslie Weingarden, media specialist, Stone.
• Angelia Willett, executive assistant, Starkey.
• Regina Williams, kindergarten teacher, Matula.

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).