CCPS staff members earn Global Seal of Biliteracy

Charles County Public Schools

November 14, 2023

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff members recently earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is a credential that was first established in 2008 in California and adopted by Maryland in 2016. The recognition is given to educators and students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages and can be used as a credential for academic and employment purposes. Thirty-four CCPS staff members recently earned the seal for proficiency in languages American Sign Language, French, Italian, Korean or Spanish.

American Sign Language (ASL)

  • Niya Costley, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School, Thomas Stone High School and F.B. Gwynn Educational Center, special education teacher.

French

  • Guilene Sitchom-Kamdem, Westlake High School, French teacher.

Italian

  • Maria Kayes, Piccowaxen Middle School, science teacher.

Korean

  • Terri Berger, Maurice J. McDonough High School, ESOL teacher.

Spanish

  • Jacqueline Alcantara-Gore, Eva Turner Elementary School, family service coordinator-case manager.

  • Glorynel Alicea, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, special education SOAR instructional assistant.

  • Perla Arnold, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, administrative instructional assistant.

  • Nelcy Avila, Westlake, Spanish teacher.

  • Samuel Carter, Mattawoman Middle School, instrumental music teacher.

  • Luis Daboin, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, administrative instructional assistant.

  • Nancy Dennehy, Matthew Henson Middle School, Spanish teacher.

  • Inmaculada Dove, Gwynn, special education instructional assistant.

  • Isabel Dunbar, Arthur Middleton Elementary School, special education instructional assistant.

  • Maggie Fitzgerald, Piccowaxen, Spanish teacher.

  • Wendy Golder, Mary H. Matula Elementary School, administrative instructional assistant.

  • Jenny Herrera, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, bilingual family and community ​outreach facilitator. 

  • Maria Higginbotham, La Plata High School, French teacher.

  • Evelin Iraheta, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, bilingual family and community liaison.

  • Christina Johnson, Gale-Bailey Elementary School, special education teacher.

  • Pilar Lepe, Starkey, international registration coordinator. 

  • Vanessa Evangelista Medina, J.P. Ryon Elementary School, kindergarten instructional assistant.

  • Jennifer Mikula, La Plata, Spanish teacher.

  • Luciano Morales, Thomas Stone, youth engagement advocate.

  • Romaira Moss, Piccowaxen, Spanish teacher.

  • Maria O’Connor-Buckingham, Starkey, senior student data technician.

  • Viridiana Reyes-Oscana, Billingsley Elementary School, secretary.

  • Tania Saguid, Middleton, fifth-grade teacher.

  • Jahan Savage-Spriggs, Stone, administrative intern.

  • Danielle Smith, the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center and McDonough, ESOL teacher.

  • Deborah Spencer, Stoddert, instructional resource teacher.

  • Rose Trinidad-Lopez, St. Charles High School, Spanish teacher.

  • Patricia Valle, Starkey, budget analyst.

  • Keara Watkins, Hanson, Spanish teacher.

  • Dina Willet, Dr. Brown, parent liaison.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 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 Kathy Kiessling, 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).