Dozens Of HCPSS Teachers Attain Highest Credentials In Education

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As the school year winds down, the Howard County Public School System recognizes 38 teachers who achieved certification between November 2019 and February 2021. National Board Certification is the highest-level credential in the educational profession. Teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, self-assessment, peer review and expert evaluation, the district explained.

Howard County is among the top five Maryland districts by historical number of NBCTs, with a total of 243 teachers who have achieved national certification. HCPSS also is among the top five Maryland districts for the number of current National Board candidates, with 85 teachers pursuing certification.

For the current certification period, HCPSS had 22 first-time achievers and 16 who renewed their certification. The newly certified achievers are:

• Jennifer Atkins, kindergarten, Waverly Elementary School
• Jennifer Borgerding, French, Howard High School
• Evelyn Calamari, gifted and talented resource, Northfield Elementary School
• Colleen Cotton, Career Technology Education, Hammond High School
• Shari Haddaway, kindergarten and instructional team leader, Waverly Elementary School
• Richard Ireland, secondary Social Studies, Mt. Hebron High School
• Erica McGowan, special education ELA, Dunloggin Middle School
• Tyler Meinhart, secondary history, Marriotts Ridge High School
• Jennifer Patel, Grade 2, Veterans Elementary School
• Cynthia Platou, secondary Social Studies, Wilde Lake High School
• Jana Poling, special education, Waverly Elementary School
• Stacey Purdum, secondary cybersecurity, Applications and Research Laboratory
• Casey Retterer, secondary science, Oakland Mills High School
• Jennifer Retterer, orchestra, Lake Elkhorn Middle School
• Jill Reynolds, reading specialist, Longfellow Elementary School
• Krista Shapiro, regional ALS, Pointers Run Elementary School
• Robert Sirois, general/vocal music, Guilford Elementary School
• Lauren Speiser, kindergarten, Forest Ridge Elementary School
• Carmen Starling, Grade 1 and instructional team leader, Bollman Bridge Elementary School
• Joanna Tanner, Social Studies, Wilde Lake Middle School
• Cynthia Wade, special education, Waverly Elementary School
• Jessica Yingling, physical education, Northfield Elementary School

The renewal achievers are:

• Elizabeth Carty, physical education, St. John’s Lane Elementary School
• Callie Casper, secondary Social Studies, River Hill High School
• Sara Cox, gifted and talented resource, Deep Run Elementary School
• Diane Curry, English and Jump Start lead, River Hill High School
• Patricia De Orio, orchestra, Forest Ridge Elementary School
• Andrea Dickie, secondary mathematics, Hammond High School
• Danielle DuPuis, media specialist, Hammond High School
• James Fisher, secondary Social Studies, River Hill High School
• Ruifan Li, secondary mathematics, Reservoir High School
• Pamela Linton-Kozar, Grade 2, Stevens Forest Elementary School
• Karen Luniewski, secondary science, Marriotts Ridge High School
• Stacie Marvin, mathematics, Hammond Middle School
• Erin McArdle, English and English instructional team leader, Howard High School
• Linda Murphy, secondary art, Oakland Mills High School
• Lauren Rifkin, reading specialist, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
• Leslie Schnebly, school counselor, West Friendship Elementary School