The Board of Education honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees during the May 13 meeting, including Olivia Willis, Roberta Bragunier, Amber Kirk, Kimberly Tabourne and Webster Lee.
Willis is a second-grade teacher at Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School and has been teaching for nearly 35 years. She is a mentor for first- and second-year teachers and serves as a back-up team leader when needed. Willis is a member of Brown’s Relay for Life team and is a supporter of the school’s United Way campaign efforts. She was one of the first teachers to start an after school homework club with her students and is well known for incorporating fun and exciting activities into lesson plans to engage students. According to Brown Principal Darryl Evans, Willis is well-respected by students, colleagues and parents. “Her colleagues regularly lean on her for support and her students and parents adore her singing and dancing as she thinks outside of the box to ensure that her students are learning,” Evans wrote in a nomination letter.
Bragunier is a special education teacher at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School. She has been teaching for more than 30 years and works with classroom teachers to support students with special needs. She goes above and beyond her duties as a teacher and often volunteers to help Mitchell families with tasks that range from helping a student’s family deliver a sofa to finding a promotion dress for one of her students. She is well respected among staff and known for her caring and nurturing demeanor. Mitchell Principal Verniece Rorie said that students under Bragunier’s care thrive and meet their maximum potential. “Her tireless efforts with parents create a seamless continuity of school to home connections. Mrs. Bragunier epitomizes the teacher that meets the needs of the whole child,” Rorie wrote in a nomination letter.
Kirk has taught kindergarten at Mary B. Neal Elementary School since the school opened in 2008. During her time at Neal, she has served as the kindergarten team leader, the administrator in charge, a member of Neal’s character education committee and started the Neal buddies committee. Kirk is currently pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education at Towson University. According to Neal Principal Carol Leveillee, Kirk is an exemplary teacher. “Ms. Kirk has a clear understanding of the curriculum that she teaches and more importantly has the teaching power to deliver the knowledge to her students. She inspires her students and motivates them to do and to be their best daily,” Leveillee wrote in a nomination letter.
Tabourne is an eighth-grade special education teacher at Mattawoman Middle School. She has taught at Mattawoman since 2004 and is the co-chair of the special education department. Tabourne ensures that her team has the tools necessary to reach their students and demonstrates a commitment to student success. She has given presentations to staff on best practices for co-teaching and shares Individualized Educati
