Educators Celebrated for Using Technology to Support Student Learning

Seven MCPS educators were honored at the 9th annual E-TIPS recognition ceremony on June 1. This event celebrates educators who use the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and integrate technology into their instruction to improve student learning.

E-TIPS stands for Educators using Technology to Improve the Performance of Students. E-TIPS courses, offered on a variety of topics and available via PDO, challenge staff to think beyond their day-to-day practice to expand their work with students.

Every year, those who take 75 hours or more of voluntary training are recognized. This year’s honorees are: Holly Buchanan, media specialist, and Jayme O’Melia, kindergarten teacher, Harmony Hills Elementary School; Nakiesha Giorgis, speech pathologist, Wheaton Woods Elementary School; Kathleen Harmison, special education teacher, Brookhaven Elementary School; Stephanie Wilson-Murray, fifth grade teacher, Kemp Mill Elementary School; and Claire Myles and Daphne Shye, both occupational therapists with the Physical Disabilities Programs.

Eleven individuals were recognized for being E-TIPS Leaders. E-TIPS Leaders are those who have promoted strategies of technology integration and UDL with their teams, colleagues and the district through trainings, professional collaboration activities, and creation of resources that can be used by others. They present in MCPS or at state and national conferences. They also work to create systems of collaboration within their school buildings by incorporating UDL into team planning or a school’s professional development efforts.

This year’s recognized leaders are: Anita Askew, special education teacher, Brooke Grove Elementary School; Coleen Hill, third grade teacher, Sargent Shriver Elementary School; Diana Koch, speech pathologist, Diamond Elementary School; Pushkala Krishnamoorthy, paraeducator, Germantown Elementary School; Claire Myles, occupational therapist, and Lucy Nolan, physical therapist, the Physical Disabilities Programs; Anjana Mehta, teacher, Wheaton High School; Pauline Pham, teacher, Parkland Middle School; Kimberly St. John, staff development teacher, Rosa Parks Middle School; Erin Swift, second grade teacher, Great Seneca Creek Elementary School; and Stephanie Wilson-Murray, fifth grade teacher, Kemp Mill Elementary School.

Happy Trails

A retirement celebration will be held for Jeff Boone, music teacher at Shady Grove Middle School, at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 20. He has 31 years of service with MCPS. The celebration will be held at 723 Regent Court in Gaithersburg. The cost to attend is $30 for appetizers, light dinner, cake and gift. Send payment to Judy Jaskolski at Shady Grove Middle School, 8100 Midcounty Highway in Gaithersburg. RSVP to Jaskolski at 240-548-7540.

Board Approves Eight Administrative Appointments

• Gary B. Bartee, director, elementary leadership development, Office of School Support and Improvement
• Faith K. Fischel, supervisor, child find/early childhood disabilities unit, Department of Special Education Services
• Dyan K. Gomez, supervisor, school allocations and resources, Department of Strategic Planning and Resource Management
• Harold A. Barber, principal, JoAnn Leleck Elementary School at Broad Acres
• Dara Brooks, principal, Bel Pre Elementary School
• Keely R. Cooke, principal, Rosemont Elementary School
• Anthony S. Felder, principal, Brookhaven Elementary School
• Meredith M. McNerney, principal, Gaithersburg Elementary School

Shout Outs

Thanks to Kat Costenbader, who has supported my daughter through three very difficult years that included a hospitalization. Kat’s support helped my daughter graduate with her peers.
—Kimberly Perikles, Learning for Independence teacher, Newport Mill Middle School

On June 1, the Honors of Speech and Language Services were awarded to Kellie Leighton-Oppler, a PreK speech pathologist at Beall Elementary School, in recognition of her extraordinary clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to students’ families.
—Cynthia Taylor, speech pathologist, Speech and Language Services

Shout out to those at the Infants and Toddlers East County Center site—Appreciate your dedication to families/children, early intervention knowledge and talent, flexibility and resiliency to programmatic change.
—Michelle Goldstein, coordinator, Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers, East County Center