Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond, who was first appointed as Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in 1997, was honored by the Board of Education for 45 years of service to the school system and children during a ceremony held Feb. 23 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.

Richmond is in his fourth term as Superintendent, which began in 2009. He came to the school system in 1966 as a classroom teacher at La Plata High School. He transferred to Thomas Stone High School in 1969 when it opened and became principal at Stone in 1973.

Richmond served as principal at Stone until 1985 when he was appointed director of supervision and curriculum. He next served as director of school administration beginning in 1987, then became the regional administrator for the southern region schools in 1994, and was subsequently appointed as Interim Superintendent of Schools in 1996.

Additionally, the Board of Education honored 75 other Charles County Public Schools employees with 40, 35, 30 and 25 years of service. Each year, the Board honors employees for their service to children and the school system.

Employees who have completed 40 years of service are:

• Linda Buckler, financial secretary, La Plata;
• Linda Burney, social studies teacher, Henry E. Lackey High School;
• Kerry DeFraia, media specialist, Eva Turner Elementary School;
• Jackie Grabis-Bunker, director of program support, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building;
• Susan Grote, pupil personnel worker, La Plata;
• Marlene Hoffman, secretary to the principal, John Hanson Middle School;
• Helen Shannon, secretary to the principal, La Plata;
• Christine Smith, instructional specialist in science, Starkey;
• Freda Weirich, media instructional assistant, William B. Wade Elementary School; and
• Charles L. Wineland, asstistant superintendent for supporting services, Starkey, 40.

Employees who have completed 35 years of service are:

• Deborah Brown, vice principal, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School;
• Louis Cate, vocal music teacher, Arthur Middleton Elementary School;
• Paula Cureton, fifth-grade teacher, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School;
• Charlene Haynie, social studies teacher, Lackey;
• Janis Milman, science teacher, Stone;
• Cathy Posey, secretary to the principal, J. P. Ryon Elementary School;
• Wanda Sellers, instructional specialist for computer technology, Starkey;
• Joan Stup, Reading Recovery teacher, Turner;
• Theresa Tipsword, special education teacher, Maurice J. McDonough High School; and
• William Watts, building service worker, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School.

Employees who have completed 30 years of service are:

• Octavia Butler, kindergarten teacher, Ryon;
• Paula Collins, media specialist, McDonough;
• Karl Craton, social studies teacher, La Plata;
• Maurita Edwards, special education teacher, T. C. Martin Elementary School;
• Gregory Ehman, mathematics teacher, McDonough;
• John Frederick, instructional assistant, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
• Martha Hickman, second-grade teacher, Dr. James Craik Elementary School;
• Rebecca Irwin, second-grade teacher, Brown;
• Daniel Jenifer, building service worker, General Smallwood Middle School;
• Barbara Linsmeier, mathematics teacher, Stone;
• Michael Mazzeo, social studies teacher, La Plata;
• Susan McCormick, vice principal, Stone;
• Joan Simms, Reading Recovery teacher, Wade;
• Judith Simpson, social studies teacher, La Plata;
• Darlene Willett, mail room clerk, Starkey; and
• Joan Withers, acting director of instructional programs, Starkey.

Employees who have completed 25 years of service are:

• Mary Bailey, Reading Recovery teacher, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School;
• Edward Baker, ESOL teacher, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School;
• Paige Baker, special education teacher, Higdon;
• Linda Bieber, kindergarten teacher, Malcolm Elementary School;
• Laurence Budd, foreman, operations center group with maintenance, Radio Station Road Annex;
• James Campbell, social studies teacher, North Point High School;
• Cellinna Childers, kindergarten teacher, William A. Diggs Elementary School;
• Sandra Fair, art teacher, North Point;
• Ronald Fenwick, building service manager, Matthew Henson Middle School;
• Claudia Finley Bowalick, instructional specialist, Ryon;
• Wayne Freeman, vice principal, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center;
• Helen Garvey, kindergarten teacher, Indian Head Elementary School;
• Helen Griffith, guidance secretary, Lackey;
• Donna Harris, fifth-grade teacher, Wade;
• David Hicks, building service worker, Lackey;
• Kimberly Hill, principal, North Point;
• Joy Hinton, instrumental music teacher, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School;
• Pamela Jacobs, attendance instructional assistant, McDonough;
• Janet Jones, reading resource teacher, Hanson;
• Sheila Kelly, building service worker, J. C. Parks Elementary School;
• Debra Lantz, mathematics teacher, Somers;
• Katherine Larson, ESOL teacher, Theodore G. Davis Middle School;
• David Lay, language arts teacher, Hanson;
• Arnold Mason, building service manager, McDonough;
• Barbara Morris, secretary to the principal, Middleton;
• Jane Murphy, food service manager, Higdon;
• Joseph Perriello, gifted education teacher, Berry Elementary School;
• John Proctor, general maintenance worker, Radio Station Road Annex;
• Maryanne Quirk, school counselor, North Point;
• Evan Sine, physical education teacher, Turner;
• Gail Slaughter, food service manager, Lackey;
• Kara Small, reading resource teacher, Wade;
• Marta Starkey-Mister, speech therapist, F.B. Gwynn Educational Center;
• Ronnie Swailes, building service manager, Smallwood;
• James Swann, building service manager, La Plata;
• Cheryl Swartzwelder, engineering concepts teacher, North Point;
• Barbara Thomas, secretary to the principal, Mattawoman Middle School;
• Tracy Travers, elementary science teacher, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School; and
• Deborah Williams, school counselor, Wade.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 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, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

• Thomas Stone High School is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Leslie Scruggs at 301-645-2601 for more information.
• La Plata High School senior Logan Rottman recently earned a Scholastic Art Regional Gold Key award for his drawing, "Summertime in Southern Maryland," from The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. The award is the highest level of achievement on the regional level. Rottman's drawing has also been submitted to the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition and winners will be announced in next month. Students in grades seven through 12 can apply in 28 art and writing categories to compete for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions are juried by professionals in the visual and literary arts field. Visit http://www.artandwriting.org/ for more information.
• Elijah Steele, a senior from North Point High School, received first place in the 2012 National Future Educators Association (FEA) Essay Competition. The topic was the future of education and how teachers can prepare for their first job in the classroom. Students were also required to include two to three ideas on how they plan to become effective teachers in their essays. Winners were announced at the 23rd annual FEA conference held Feb. 17-19 in Baltimore. For additional conference competition winners, visit http://futureeducators.org/conference/past/past2012_winners.htm.
• Charles County public high school chamber choirs will join the Purdue Varsity Glee Club (PVGC) and Chesapeake Choral Arts Society on Tuesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at New Life Church in La Plata. The men of PVGC, including Maurice J. McDonough High School alum William "Billy" Thiedeman, will present a 90-minute concert including gospel, vocal jazz, swing, contemporary hits, romantic ballads, classical choral selections, barbershop, folk melodies, patriotic standards, familiar opera choruses, country and novelty tunes. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door by cash payment only. Call 301-642-0594 for more information.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 caring community 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, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding two public hearings to gather input on redistricting alternatives for Theodore G. Davis Middle School, William A. Diggs Elementary School and Mary B. Neal Elementary School. The redistricting also rezones some students at Matthew Henson Middle School, Milton M. Somers Middle School, J.C. Parks Elementary School and Berry Elementary School. Complete descriptions of the alternatives can be found at http://www2.ccboe.com/parentscomm/transportation/redistricting.cfm.

Public hearings are set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Thomas Stone High School and 7 p.m., Monday, March 26, at North Point High School. The hearings will be held in the school auditoriums. The first public hearing is to address recommendations made by a Redistricting Committee to the superintendent and the Board. The second public hearing is to address the superintendent's recommendation to the Board. Public hearings will end no later than 9 p.m.

• The Board welcomes public comment on the redistricting plans. In order to allow proper time for all interested speakers, the following guidelines have been established for public hearings:
• Any person wishing to speak during the public hearing must sign the sign-in sheet. The sign-in sheet will be available outside the school auditorium beginning 45 minutes prior to the start of public forum. No one arriving after the start of the hearing at 7 p.m. will be allowed to sign in or speak.
• Speakers will be called to the podium by number. Numbers will be issued to each speaker as they sign in.
• Individuals should limit their comments to the redistricting proposals.
• Comments should be concise and to the point, and limited to three minutes. A screen showing the time provides warnings when speakers have one minute and 30 seconds left to speak. The Board chairman will ask the speaker to stop at three minutes in order to provide equal opportunity to all those who would like to comment.
• Engaging in active debate with the Board of Education or audience members will not be allowed. All comments and questions must be directed to the Board.
• Board members are there to listen to comments and gather information for use in making their decisions on redistricting. Board members will not answer questions or comment to speakers during the hearing.
• Remarks must be respectful and courteous, free of name-calling and personal attacks. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.
• The Board of Education appreciates the cooperation of citizens in honoring these guidelines, and looks forward to hearing from the public.

For a complete overview of redistricting, fact sheets outlining the proposals for each school, a redistricting school locator and other information, visit http://www2.ccboe.com/parentscomm/transportation/redistricting.cfm.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 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, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.