A member of the Board of Education of Charles County will be honored next month by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), an organization serving and supporting the state’s boards of education.
Yonelle Moore Lee, Esq., who was elected to the Board in 2022, will receive the Distinguished School Board Service Award, MABE’s highest accolade.
“I felt incredibly honored, humbled and grateful,” Moore Lee said of earning the recognition. She recalled thinking about those who make her work on the Board possible including students, educators, staff, families, Board members, the community and her family. “This recognition belongs, in many ways, to all of them as well,” Moore Lee said.
Board Chairperson Nicole M. Kreamer said Moore Lee is an asset to the Board. “She is thoughtful in her positions and truly considers how every student, family or staff member will be impacted by the decisions we make as a Board,” Kreamer said. “She has demonstrated the utmost integrity and professionalism, setting a true example of what leadership in public service should look like.”
Moore Lee started her tenure with the Board in a leadership position when her colleagues elected her as vice chairperson in 2023; she was elected Board chairperson in 2024 and again in 2025. Kreamer served as the vice chairperson for the two years Moore Lee was chairperson. The close working relationship offered Kreamer a firsthand look at Moore Lee’s dedication to her role as a Board member.
“I admire her compassion and empathy for others and unwavering commitment to the community that she serves,” Kreamer said.
Moore Lee wanted to serve on the Board due to her belief that education is one of the most powerful tools available to change lives and strengthen communities. She strives to ensure every student — regardless of their background — has access to an excellent education and the opportunity to reach their full potential. “Serving on the Board has allowed me to advocate not only for students, but also for the educators, staff and families that make our school system successful,” Moore Lee said.
Recipients of MABE’s service award have an understanding of the role and responsibilities of a school Board member and work collaboratively with others while valuing diversity and advocating for education, according to information provided by MABE.
Leadership at a state and national level is also a factor in earning the award. Moore Lee, who is an attorney and mother of three children, serves as chairperson of the National Black Council of School Board Members and on the boards of directors of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and MABE.
She is on the boards of directors of the United Way of the National Capital Area, Leadership Southern Maryland and the Charles County Scholarship Fund. She is active with the National Bar Association and serves as the organization’s second vice chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. Moore Lee is involved in community organizations including The Link Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the National Council of Negro Women and is president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Southern Maryland. She graduated from both Leadership Maryland and Leadership Southern Maryland in 2024.
Each membership brings with it a different avenue for service but they are related in a way, she said. “There is a common thread throughout my involvement,” Moore Lee said, pointing out they center around education, leadership, advocacy and creating opportunities for others.
Those in public service often work toward or accomplish goals that occur behind the scenes, but are no less impactful. “What I have learned is that public service is both a privilege and a responsibility. You will not always receive credit for the progress you help make, and sometimes the most important decisions are the least visible,” Moore Lee said. “But when you walk around a school and see students thriving, hear from an educator who feels supported or know that a policy you helped advance will create opportunities for children for years to come, you are reminded why the work matters.”
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,904 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).