HCPSS Teachers Earn, Renew Certification

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Twenty-two teachers achieved certification during the 2019-2020 school year; 15 of those were first-timers and seven renewed their certification. National Board Certification is the highest-level credential in the educational profession.

Howard County is among the top five Maryland districts by historical number of certified educators with a total of 237 teachers who have achieved national certification. HCPSS is also among the top five Maryland districts for the number of current National Board candidates, with 90 teachers pursuing certification.

The newly certified achievers are:

• Colleen Cotton, Career Technology Education, Hammond High School
• Richard Ireland, secondary Social Studies, Mt. Hebron High School
• Erica McGowan, special education, 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
• Robert Sirois, general/vocal music, Guilford Elementary School
• Carmen Starling, Grade 1, Bollman Bridge Elementary School
• Joanna Tanner, secondary 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
• Sara Cox, gifted and talented resource, Dayton Oaks Elementary School and St. John’s Lane Elementary School
• James Fisher, secondary Social Studies, River Hill High School
• Pamela Linton-Kozar, Grade 2, Stevens Forest Elementary School
• Stacie Marvin, mathematics, Hammond Middle School
• Erin McArdle, English, Howard High School
• Lauren Rifkin, reading specialist, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School