LA PLATA, Md. – The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee, known as SECAC, recently honored Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff members who work with students with special needs. Parents and guardians can nominate CCPS staff members for an award to recognize outstanding work and kindness. Any staff member — teachers, building service workers, bus drivers, counselors, cafeteria staff, secretaries, principals, assistant principals, librarians and others — who have impacted a student with special needs is eligible for recognition.
The SECAC annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Awards ceremony was held May 21, and honorees were announced in five categories: individual teacher/staff nominees; team nominees: related services staff nominees; support staff/administration nominees; and buddy recognition award nominees.
Overall award recipients were named in each category. They are as follows.
- Individual teacher/staff award.
- Julie Glorioso, special education teacher, Mary B. Neal Elementary School.
- Erin Locke, special education teacher, Arthur Middleton Elementary School.
- Sherrell Taylor, special education teacher, Dr. James Craik Elementary School.
- Team nominee award.
- Julie Daniel, math teacher, and Abdul Yilla, special education teacher, John Hanson Middle School.
- Amber Walker, second-grade teacher, and Erin Horton Poff, special education teacher, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School.
- Related services award.
- Kia Griffin, special education compliance facilitator, St. Charles High School.
- Michelle Gilliam, school counselor, J.P. Ryon Elementary School.
- Support staff/administrator award.
- Elsie Sheff, bus driver, and Kathleen “Kitty” Hart, bus attendant.
- Dakeisha Anderson, special education teacher, SOAR program, Thomas Stone High School.
- Buddy awards – students were nominated for demonstrating kindness to their peers with special needs.
- Kairo Burroughs, kindergarten, Eva Turner Elementary School.
- David Kelley, fourth grade, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School.
- Brielle Martin, kindergarten, J.C. Parks Elementary School.
- Kendall Stone, kindergarten, Neal.
The overall award recipients were chosen from more than 50 nominations. A list of all nominees honored through the awards program is posted on the SECAC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CharlesCoSECAC.
SECAC is organized to provide a forum for issues pertaining to children with special education needs. Its members advocate at the county, state and national levels to make recommendations and assist the school system with issues including the education budget, inclusion assessments, support services, and other issues concerning children and special education and related services.
To learn more about SECAC, visit https://www.ccboe.com/parents/charlescounty-secac.
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).