CCPS Announces Administrative Appointments, Transfers For Next School Year

LA PLATA, Md. – Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) today announces three new principal appointments, six new assistant principal appointments and several assistant principal transfers. The appointments and transfers take affect July 1 and include appointments at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

The following appointments were approved by the Board of Education of Charles County at its May 13 meeting. 

Principal Appointments

• Jasmine Bateman, Ed.D., as principal at Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA). Bateman currently serves as an assistant principal at Thomas Stone High School. She joined CCPS in 2022 as an assistant principal at Stone. Prior to joining the school system, Bateman worked for 11 years with Paterson Public Schools in New Jersey. Bateman will replace current PISOTA Principal R. Demetri Sermons, Ed.D., who moves to Gale-Bailey Elementary School as principal on July 1. 
• Davita Itsuokor as principal at Mary H. Matula Elementary School. Itsuokor currently serves as an assistant principal at Matthew Henson Middle School. She joined CCPS in 2023 as an assistant principal at Henson. Prior to joining CCPS, Itsuokor was an assistant principal with Howard County Public Schools. She also taught in Baltimore County Public Schools, Christina School District in Newark, Del., and Eastern Local School District in Beaver, Ohio. Itsuokor fills a vacant principal role at Matula due to the mid-year retirement of Carrie Richardson in December 2024. Itsuokor’s appointment is effective July 1. 
• Jennifer Posey as principal at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. Posey currently serves as an assistant principal at William B. Wade Elementary School. She began her career in education in 2009 with CCPS as a science teacher and became an assistant principal in 2018. Posey spent several years as an assistant principal at Matula before moving to Wade in 2023. Posey will replace current Higdon Principal Shannon Finnegan, Ed.D., who announced her plans to retire June 30. Posey’s appointment is effective July 1.

Assistant Principal Appointments

• Rachel Baker, assistant principal at Berry Elementary School. She currently serves as an instructional resource teacher at Indian Head Elementary School. 
• Rosalind Carter, assistant principal at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. She is currently an administrative intern at North Point High School. 
• Amber Parry, assistant principal at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School. She is currently a special education teacher at Dr. James Craik Elementary School. 
• Bianca Valdez, assistant principal at Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School. She currently teaches fifth grade at Malcolm Elementary School. 
• Keyanna Williams, assistant principal at Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School. She currently teaches fourth grade at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School. 
• Kaitlyn Zaccarelli, assistant principal at Henry E. Lackey High School. She is currently an administrative intern at La Plata High School.

Additionally, the following administrative transfers take effect July 1 for the 2025-2026 school year.

Assistant Principal Transfers

• Brian Craley moves from assistant principal at La Plata High School to assistant principal at Maurice J. McDonough High School. 
• Sonja Djossou moves from assistant principal at Maurice J. McDonough High School to assistant principal at Thomas Stone High School. 
• Michael Enrico moves from assistant principal at Matthew Henson Middle School to assistant principal at William B. Wade Elementary School. 
• Bryan Hill moves from assistant principal at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School to assistant principal at PISOTA. 
• Mike Heiser moves from assistant principal at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center to assistant principal at Thomas Stone High School. 
• Ivy Hodges moves from assistant principal at Henry E. Lackey High School to assistant principal at North Point High School. 
• Andrea Johnson moves from assistant principal at William B. Wade Elementary School to assistant principal at William A. Diggs Elementary School. 
• Kenneth Myers moves from assistant principal at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School to C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School. 
• Carl Pascarella moves from assistant principal at North Point High School to assistant principal at La Plata High School. 
• Nyesha Lanes Sherman moves from assistant principal at J.C. Parks Elementary School to assistant principal at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. 
• Brad Snow moves from assistant principal at Thomas Stone High School to assistant principal at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center. 
• Twanna Taylor moves from assistant principal at J.P. Ryon Elementary School to assistant principal at William B. Wade Elementary School. 
• Derrick Thornton moves from assistant principal at Berry Elementary School to assistant principal at Matthew Henson Middle School. 
• Erica Watson moves from assistant principal at J.C. Parks Elementary School to assistant principal at J.P. Ryon Elementary School. 
• Melissa Withrow moves from assistant principal at William A. Diggs Elementary School to assistant principal at J.C. Parks Elementary School. 
• Brittany Yhap moves from assistant principal at Theodore G. Davis Middle School to assistant principal at Matthew Henson Middle School.

Learn more about CCPS at www.ccboe.com. 

About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 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).