Six Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees — five teachers and a parent liaison — recently earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is a credential that was first established in 2008 in California and adopted by Maryland in 2016. The recognition is given to students and educators who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages and can be used as a credential for academic and employment purposes.
Spanish teachers Nancy Dennehy of Matthew Henson Middle School, Jennifer Mikula of La Plata High School, Romaira Moss of Maurice J. McDonough High School, Maggie Fitzgerald of Piccowaxen Middle School, Rose Trinidad-Lopez of St. Charles High School and parent liaison Sylvie Acevedo of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School recently earned the credential.
La Plata High School Spanish teacher Jennifer Mikula started her career with CCPS in 2011 and has been at La Plata for nearly 11 years. “Learning a new language allows you to see the world in a new light,” she said. “It will help you better understand your own language and it opens doors to worldwide travel and new career opportunities.” She became an educator after having her own positive experiences with her teachers growing up. She chose to teach Spanish after developing an appreciation of the culture and language. Mikula said that to start learning a new language, someone must learn in a way that they enjoy. “It is incredibly easy to access television, radio and entertainment in languages other than English,” she said. “While it is not easy to learn another language, with commitment and a willingness to make mistakes and learn from them, you can be successful.”
Rose Trindad-Lopez, Spanish teacher at St. Charles High School, started working with CCPS in 2019 after moving from Puerto Rico. Before coming to the U.S., she worked as a teacher for nearly 15 years, as an advisor of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for 13 years, and nine years as a Relay for Life captain. Trindad-Lopez has been at St. Charles for nearly four years after moving to Maryland. She has been the Spanish teacher at the school since then. For the past two years she has also been the World Language chairperson at the school. She said that teaching a college course made her fall in love with education. Trindad-Lopez said that the reason why she wanted to become certified in the Global Seal of Biliteracy stemmed from what she tells her students, “[If you know] more languages, more doors open for you in the future and a bunch of opportunities.” She tells her students to not be afraid to speak with an accent. “That makes you special — it shows others that you speak more than one language,” she said. “Enjoy the learning and have fun along the way.”
Spanish teacher at Maurice J. McDonough High School Romaira Moss started her career in education as a long-term substitute and enjoyed her first year so much that she pursued her teacher’s certification and master’s degree to become a full-time educator. After switching careers, she started with CCPS in 2015, spending all eight years at McDonough. Moss was born in Venezuela and growing up bilingual, being fluent in both Spanish and English, she said, “It is important for me to know more than one language because it helps me feel more connected as a global citizen, someone who is more connected to the world.” She believes that it is also important for students to immerse themselves in the language and never give up. “If they have the opportunity to travel or to study abroad, they should do it,” Moss said.
Maggie Fitzgerald is a Spanish teacher at Piccowaxen Middle School, always ready for her students to learn more about the language and culture. She has been an educator at the school for nearly a decade. She started her career with CCPS in 2013 and has been at Piccowaxen ever since. Inspiring teachers make a longlasting impact on students for now and years after and Fitzgerald is a product of having great educators who inspired her to become one herself. One teacher taught her the importance of overcoming adversity. “I still remember how she was able to provide me with feedback in such a way that made me want to do better,” she said. “Her passion for teaching was contagious. I want all of my students to feel how much I care for them as individuals.”
Parent Liaison Sylvie Acevedo of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, recently received the Global Seal of Biliteracy. She has been a member of the CCPS family since 2016, beginning her time at Jenifer in 2021. She uses her role in family and community engagement to develop important relationships for the betterment of the school system. “It is important to learn another language in order to more efficiently and effectively communicate with our families,” she said.
Nancy Dennehy was unavailable to participate in this release as of press time.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 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 Kathy Kiessling, 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).