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The Board of Education honored seven exemplary Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees at its monthly meeting March 9. Honored were Cynthia Anderson, Cheryl Ervin, Sarah Elliott, Tracy Blake, Christine Gamble, Jeffrey Lambert and Mary Bilmanis.

Anderson is the Reading Recovery teacher at Berry Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition by Principal Darryl Evans for supporting struggling readers, serving as a mentor for fellow teachers, and for leading by example. For the past three school years, Anderson has coordinated multiple after school literacy groups for students who need additional help with reading. She works with classroom teachers to model lessons for use with struggling readers, and provides staff with up-to-date lists of students who need extra literacy support. Anderson also coordinates promotion ceremonies for students when they complete the Reading Recovery program. Evans also nominated Anderson for recognition for her dedication to working with special needs students. For the past two school years, Anderson has used much of her daily planning time to visit with a special needs student. “She makes a point to pick this student up from class each day and walk and talk with her. Because of her care for our students, we have also seen a decrease in the number of students who are unable to read after they finish first grade,” Evans wrote in a nomination letter.

Ervin is the Reading Recovery teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition by Diggs staff for implementing a balanced literacy/reading program, for developing phonemic awareness activities for teachers, and for her dedication to working with staff and struggling readers. Ervin has worked for CCPS for 32 years, and has been a Reading Recovery teacher for the past 10 years. She mentors new Reading Recovery teachers and works with classroom teachers to provide strategies for struggling readers. She is a member of the Diggs School Improvement Committee, and provides staff development lessons on balanced literacy and running records. Ervin has also coordinated reading incentive programs for students and tutors at-risk readers before and after school. She also organizes groups of fifth-grade students to serve as reading buddies to first grade students in the Reading Recovery program. “Ervin is a wonderful asset to the Diggs community. She goes above and beyond to help not only struggling readers and students, but her fellow teachers and parents,” Diggs Principal Sandra Taylor said during the recognition ceremony.

Elliott is a kindergarten teacher at Arthur Middleton Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition by Middleton Principal Greg Miller for supporting students and staff, for serving as an excellent team leader, and for working with the school’s instructional leadership team. Elliott often seeks support and advice from the county instructional leadership team, and mentors staff on her team, as well as instructional assistants. She was essential in helping the kindergarten team transition from a half day of instruction to a full day schedule. Elliott also serves as the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) liaison and comes in during the summer to help prepare for the upcoming openings of schools. “She devotes many hours of her own time to help get her room ready, to plan kindergarten orientation and help with reading records. She demonstrates the abilities of an outstanding master teacher,” Miller wrote in a nomination letter.

Blake is a reading resource teacher at J.P. Ryon Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition by Ryon Principal Virginia McGraw for her exemplary work ethic, her commitment to relationships with students, staff and parents and for serving as the “backbone” of the reading program at Ryon. Blake has been the reading resource teacher at Ryon for the past seven school years and previously taught fifth grade. She works with intervention groups from kindergarten through fifth grade, and assists teachers with planning reading and writing lessons. Blake also creates a weekly handout for teachers that include reading tips for use in the classroom and resources for teacher planning.  She also presents during staff development and in-service sessions and helps coordinate parent education events at the school. “Tracy is always on the go. She is our resident ‘go to’ person when it comes to reading. She is very well respected by our staff because of her willingness to help out at any time,” McGraw wrote in a nomination letter.

Gamble is an eighth grade social studies teacher at Piccowaxen Middle School. She was nominated for recognition by Piccowaxen Middle School Principal Kenneth Schroeck for being a positive role model for students, for supporting students and staff, for coordinating the school history fair and for going above and beyond to benefit the school and students. Gamble previously taught at Matthew Henson Middle School before joining the Piccowaxen staff in 2007. During her two years at Piccowaxen, Gamble has coordinated the school history fair and Veterans Day events, served as a Future Educators Association (FEA) sponsor, and planned the annual Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) talent show. She is the social studies department chair and often works evenings and weekends during the after-school and Saturday academies. Gamble demonstrates excellence in the classroom, where she plans fun and exciting lessons for her students. “Her students learn not only the history of our country, but the value of citizenship which begins in her classroom. She exemplifies what a good teacher is and is a positive role model for all who have the pleasure of working with her,” Schroeck wrote in a nomination letter.

Lambert is a physical education teacher at General Smallwood Middle School. He was nominated for recognition by Smallwood Vice Principal Kathy Perriello for his work with the Life Skills program, for recognizing students for their successes, for helping draft and implement new physical education curriculum strategies and for his strong rapport with students, staff and parents. Lambert works with the instructional leadership team to implement new strategies for students and presents at country workshops that incorporate reading and writing into physical education curriculum. He has also assisted in organizing the CCPS middle school volleyball tournament for 19 years, and has coached wrestling and soccer at Henry E. Lackey High School. Lambert also coaches volleyball, archery, and track and field at Smallwood and helps mentor new teachers. “Lambert consistently promotes a positive attitude amongst staff members and often provides shoes and clothes for students who cannot afford them. He has recently spent many hours planning and implementing new activities for students in the Life Skills program,” Perriello wrote in a nomination letter.

Bilmanis is the college and career counselor at Thomas Stone High School. She was nominated for recognition by Stone Principal L.C. Martin and staff for coordinating the recent indoor yard sale to benefit Haiti relief efforts, for organizing the senior awards ceremony and for successfully providing college and career counseling for students and parents over the past 10 school years. Bilmanis has an excellent work ethic and has a high degree of integrity. She creates a monthly college/career newsletter and plans the senior portfolio interviews each year. Bilmanis is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) liaison at Stone and maintains information regarding NCAA scholarships. She also administers placement tests for the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to students each year. In addition to her work at Stone, Bilmanis also teaches math at CSM. “She is a quiet, competent and efficient person who leads by example. When you are around her, you want to roll up your sleeves and ‘pitch in.’ She is a poster adult for work ethic, is here early and late, and is willing to take on new tasks without complaint,” Martin said in a nomination letter.

The Board honors several employees each month for outstanding contributions to the school system and children of Charles County.