Burtonsville Elementary ES Principal Honored by Media Specialists

Kimberly Kimber, principal at Burtonsville Elementary School, has been honored with the Nancy C. Walker Award for Outstanding Support to a Library Media Program for 2014–2-15 school year. The award is given annually by the Montgomery County Educational Media Specialists Association (MCEMSA) to highlight the role performed by administrative leaders in supporting library media centers.

“Kim is a supporter of flexible scheduling and collaboration,” says Trish Warnock-Safford, the media specialist at Burtonsville. “It’s wonderful that she appears in the kids’ films and that she comes to our Black-Eyed Susan Club meetings sometimes, and has called home to help kids remember to return library books. Her support of flexible scheduling makes it possible for me to support the research needed to complete the writing in the curriculum and allows our students to do real multimedia projects.”

Kimber initiates and actively supports the school’s media program on a regular basis. She expects the staff to know that collaboration with Warnock-Safford is “non-negotiable,” and believes that this collaboration will help teach the curriculum. She has put practical and efficient methods in place to increase Warnock-Safford’s ability to attend team planning meetings and believes that a fully staffed media center is vital to the school’s success—strong messages in support of the media program that Kimber makes clear to all stakeholders.

Edison HS Teachers Receive Leadership Award from Interages

Brenda Lopez and Tonga “Toni” Quan, teachers at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, have received the Margaret Cutler Intergenerational Leadership Award. This award is given annually in the name of Margaret Cutler, the founding Board president of the JCA Heyman Interages Center. The award is given to individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in developing, implementing or supporting intergenerational programs in Montgomery County.

Since 1997, Interages has partnered with the cosmetology department at Edison to host a Makeover Madness program at their school. Makeover Madness brings seniors from nearby adult day care centers and assisted living facilities to the school for a day of pampering. The senior adults receive services such as manicures and haircuts, which help them look and feel better. Participating students benefit by becoming better trained to enter the workforce and engage more effectively with a wide range of clients. The students’ involvement in Makeover Madness helps them grow in understanding, patience and compassion towards senior adults.

Programs such as Makeover Madness highlight the “win-win” nature of intergenerational activities. For many years, Lopez and Quan have been champions of the program, opening their cosmetology classroom to hundreds of seniors. They will be honored during a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on May 27 at the Golden Bull Restaurant in Gaithersburg.

Happy Trails

Upcoming retirement celebrations will be held for:

Susan Little, special education teacher at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road in Ellicott City, MD. She has 30 years of service with MCPS. The cost to attend is $15 and covers cocktails, dinner, dessert and dancing. No gifts, please. Donations can be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church Outreach Committee. Make checks payable to Drew Social Committee, Attention: Susan Little, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, 1200 Swingingdale Dr., Silver Spring, MD, 20905. RSVP by May 11 to Susan Little.

Kwang “Sunny” Lee, principal at Clarksburg Elementary School, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at The Highlands at Germantown, 20260 Goldenrod Lane in Germantown. She has 41 years of service for MCPS. The cost is $55 for appetizers and dinner buffet (cash bar). If you would like to contribute to a group gift, please add more to your payment. Make check payable to Carrie Hillmuth, c/o Clarksburg Elementary School, 13530 Redgrave Place, Clarksburg, MD, 20871. RSVP by May 15 to Hillmuth at 301-353-8060.

Tom Gillard, Jr., staff development teacher at Julius West Middle School, at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, at High Point Farm, 23730 Frederick Road in Clarksburg. He has been with MCPS for 42 years. The cost is $40, which includes dinner, soft drinks, dessert, entertainment and gift. Send payment to Meghan Styles at Julius West MS, 651 Great Falls Road, Rockville, MD, 20850. RSVP by May 15 to Styles at 301-279-3979.

Russ Bradshaw, P.E. teacher at Washington Grove Elementary School, at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1, at Normandie Farm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road in Potomac. He has 44 years of service with MCPS. The cost to attend is $50, which includes dinner and contribution to gift. Make checks payable to Jason Snyder at Washington Grove, and send them to the school at 8712 Oakmont St. in Gaithersburg. RSVP by May 15 to Snyder at 301-840-7120.

Thomas “Tom” Marvel, counselor at Rocky Hill Middle School, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at The Golden Bill Restaurant, 7 Dalamar St. in Gaithersburg. He has 33 years of service with MCPS. The cost is $41 for dinner buffet and gift (contributions toward music and extras are welcome). Send payment to Barbara Woodward, Robert Frost Middle School, 9201 Scott Dr. in Rockville. RSVP by June 1 to Woodward at 301-279-3949.

Lynda Wainwright, instructional specialist in the Division of Title I Program, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at Leisure World, Clubhouse One, 3700 Rossmoor Blvd. in Silver Spring. She has been with MCPS for 43 years. The cost is $35 for gift, picnic dinner buffet and drinks (cash bar will be available). Make checks payable to MCPS Title I Social Fund and send by Pony to Christal Messett, Division of Title I Programs, Rocking Horse Road Center, Room 204, or by mail to Division of Title I Programs, Attn: Christal Messett, 4910 Macon Road, #204, Rockville, MD 20852. RSVP by May 22 to Messett. Contact Sue Ginsberg at 301-230-0660 with questions.

June Miller, P.E. teacher at Waters Landing Elementary School, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, at Monocacy Crossing Restaurant, 4224 Urbana Pike in Frederick. She has 30 years of service with MCPS. The cost is $35 and includes appetizers and buffet dinner. Send payment to Katie Hinsvark, 4321 Lynn Burke Road, Monrovia, MD, 21770. RSVP by May 29 to Hinsvark at 301-529-3836.

People on the Move

The Board of Education made seven administrative appointments at its business meeting on April 27. They are:

• Niki T. Hazel, director, Department of Elementary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs
• Charles L. McGee, director, Department of Infrastructure/Operations
• Scott W. Murphy, director, Department of Secondary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs
• Joel S. Smetanka, director, Department of Learning Management Systems, Office of the Chief Technology Officer
• Floyd D. Starnes, coordinator, ESOL and Immigrant Bilingual Support Programs
• Peter J. Cahall, principal, Thomas Edison High School of Technology
• Carl R. Bencal, principal, Clarksburg Elementary School

In Memoriam

Rebecca Cherry, who retired from Rock Creek Forest Elementary School in 2004, died on March 26 in Rochester, N.Y.

Peggy J. Edens, a transportation time attendance assistant for the Department of Transportation, died on April 5. She had more than 42 years of service to MCPS.

Patricia H. Morin, paraeducator at Piney Branch Elementary School, died on April 15. She had been with MCPS for more than nine years.

Norma S. Robinson, bus operator I at the West Farm Depot, died on March 17. She had been with MCPS for more than 25 years.

Ethiopia T. Serawit, lunch-hour aide at East Silver Spring Elementary School, died on March 26. She had nine years of service with MCPS.