Charles Co. Public Schools News Briefs

Cevenini to lead instructional technology efforts

Superintendent Kimberly A. Hill announced this week the appointment of Peter Cevenini as Chief of Instructional Technology for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS).

Cevenini, chief information officer for the Maryland State Department of Education, will focus on the use of technology for instruction while creating a technology vision for CCPS.

Cevenini previously served as Director, Education and Workforce Lead for Cisco Systems, an information technology business; principal of North Point High School; and director of the former CCPS Career and Technology Center.

“The chief of instructional technology is a vital position that I believe will have a direct and visible impact on student achievement. Mr. Cevenini’s proven track record of leadership in the academic setting as well as in the field of instructional technology make him an ideal person for this important role,” Hill said.

In his new role, Cevenini will supervise and monitor career and technology education, Project Lead the Way, technical education, business education and computer science programs. Additionally, he will oversee the technology department and act as the liaison with the Maryland State Department of Education on all technology initiatives. His position is part of the Office of Instruction.

"I am excited to return home to Charles County. I know that the experience I have gained will fully support Dr. Hill's vision for a strong, connected and collaborative learning environment in our county,” Cevenini said. "

Cevenini starts July 1.

North Point seniors named finalists in Achievement Program


The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently named North Point High School seniors Christain Barnes and Njuguna Thande as finalists in the 2015 National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Both students receive a single-payment scholarship of $2,500 and are two of 700 nationwide finalists recognized through the program. Students are considered for the scholarship program, which is supported by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, when they take the preliminary SAT as high school juniors.

Barnes is enrolled in the engineering program at North Point and plans to study aerospace engineering after he graduates. He is president of the North Point National Honor Society, a member of the Key Club and enjoys participating in school-related community service projects. Thande is also enrolled in the engineering program at North Point and plans to study mechanical engineering after he graduates. Thande has participated in robotics programs at North Point and is a member of Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA).

Both students have received several offers of attendance and scholarships from colleges and universities such as Stanford and Princeton, and the University of Maryland College Park. Finalists are selected for high academic performance and SAT scores, principal recommendation, and student and community leadership activities.

More than 160,000 students nationwide entered the 2015 National Achievement Scholarship Program, which recognizes African-American students for high achievement. In order to advance to the finalist level, semifinalists are required to submit a detailed scholarship application that includes academic record information, examples of participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, honors and awards received.

The NMSC is a non-profit organization that was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC’s funds and more than 500 business organizations and other educational institutions with the goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic students and the pursuit of academic excellence. Visit www.nationalmerit.org.

SMECO honors teachers for math and science achievements

Six Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers were recently named 2015 Outstanding Math and Science Teacher Honorees by the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) for their accomplishments in the area of mathematics and science teaching. One teacher is selected annually at each level – elementary, middle and high school – for excellence in mathematics and science teaching.

Honored as Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year are Jason Miller, St. Charles High School; Jeana Stanley, Theodore G. Davis Middle School; and Corrie Wutka, William A. Diggs Elementary School.

Honored as Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year are Jennifer Elder, Arthur Middleton Elementary School; Holly Fallica, General Smallwood Middle School; and Matthew Watkoski, Maurice J. McDonough High School.

Miller teaches Algebra I at St. Charles and works with ninth-grade students. Prior to the opening of St. Charles this school year, Miller taught mathematics at Thomas Stone High School. He began his teaching career with CCPS in 2010 at Stone and was nominated for the SMECO award for his efforts in helping his students excel in math. Algebra I is a content area in which high school students are tested as a graduation requirement, and Miller works with all of his students to make sure they not only understand the content, but meet the requirement. He helps with curriculum writing and has led the portion on math during new teacher orientation for the past two years. He also volunteers to work with new teachers on classroom management, math curriculum and planning, and has assisted with several professional development sessions.

Stanley teaches sixth-grade mathematics at Davis. Her classes include students in both accelerated math and grade-level inclusion math. She has also taught seventh grade math, pre-algebra and Algebra I. Stanley has been teaching at Davis since 2007, and taught at Mattawoman Middle School prior to the opening of Davis. She has been a teacher with CCPS for 11 years and sponsors the Destination Imagination team at Davis. Stanley is active on the school’s Relay for Life team and has also held other leadership positions that include team leader, math department chair and Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) sponsor. Throughout her career, Stanley has also served on several curriculum writing committees.

Wutka is a third-grade teacher at Diggs and works with different levels of learners, including gifted education and special education students, as well as students who are on grade level in math. She has been teaching third graders since 2009 and previously worked with second-grade students for nearly four school years. She began her teaching career with CCPS in 2005 at J.C. Parks Elementary School, and transferred to Diggs when the school opened in 2006. Wutka has also taught accelerated math classes and classes during summer reading and gifted summer academies. For the past four years, Wutka has mentored students from North Point High School who are interested in becoming teachers. In addition to her nomination for the SMECO award, Wutka has been nominated for recognition through the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) awards program three times.

Elder teaches science at Middleton and works with students in grades two through five. She has been teaching at Middleton for the past six school years and has also taught at Indian Head and Gale-Bailey elementary schools. She began her teaching career with CCPS in 2002 at Indian Head. In addition to teaching elementary school science, Elder has served on curriculum writing teams for science, as well as for reading and math. She has sponsored several student organizations and clubs including Destination Imagination, math teams, Just Say No and MESA. Additionally, Elder is in the process of completing an internship to finish her administrative certification.

Fallica has been teaching sixth grade Earth and space science at Smallwood for the past four school years and began her teaching career with CCPS in 2011. She is the co-team leader for the sixth-grade and sponsors the school’s environmental club. She also coaches the girls’ volleyball team and is an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program mentor, in which she helps students prepare for college. In 2014, Fallica applied for funding through the Lowes in Education grant program and helped secure $5,000 to support an outdoor classroom area at Smallwood. She was also instrumental in helping Smallwood achieve a 2014 Maryland Green School designation, in which schools must complete a two-year application process to be eligible.

Watkoski teaches ninth grade Earth and space science and teaches honors level, inclusion and grade-level courses. He began his teaching career with CCPS at McDonough in 2009. In addition to teaching Earth and space science, Watkoski has also taught introductory engineering, advanced technology education, and college and career ready courses. He is an active participant in the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education and worked with staff from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to create science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) based lessons for STEMnet, Maryland’s STEM Innovation Network for educators. The partnership helped McDonough earn recognition as a Maryland STEM Innovation School.

The teachers were nominated for the awards by staff, students and parents. Each was chosen for their outstanding performance in the areas of creativity, rapport with students, enthusiasm for teaching, professionalism, and for using innovative techniques and teaching methods in the classroom. They were honored by SMECO at an April 15 reception.