Staff Focus

A world-class educational system fully leverages the talent, energy and creativity of highly engaged staff. Staff engagement is a prerequisite to student engagement so we foster a culture that brings out the best in our employees.

Kate Graham, Kindergarten Teacher, Longfellow Elementary School

Kate Graham, at Longfellow Elementary School, believes in offering her kindergarteners “structured, play-based choices, developmentally appropriate for young learners.” She helps her 20 “little ones feel independent and successful” on a daily basis through morning meetings, which involve moving their bodies to music; language arts; math; recess; quiet time; P.E., art, music, technology or media […]

Diana Thesing, ESOL Teacher, Oakland Mills High School

Diana Thesing always knew she wanted to make a difference in the community and found her calling as an ESOL teacher at Oakland Mills High School. HCPSS ESOL promotes the development of English language learning students’ proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing as they engage in study of academic content across all subjects. Thesing […]

Staff Focus: Kim Deppen, Kindergarten Team Leader, Veterans Elementary School

Kim Deppen has taught for HCPSS for 17 years. Co-workers commend Deppen’s ability to create a safe and welcoming learning environment that supports the success of her students. Learn more about Deppen in this Staff Focus video.

Staff Focus: Chris Edwards, Office of Custodial Services

Chris Edwards has been a supervisor in the HCPSS Office of Custodial Services for more than 22 years. Custodial Services works to provide a safe, clean and healthy environment for the students, teachers and staff of Howard County schools. The primary responsibility of this office is to keep the buildings, grounds, sidewalks and fields clean […]

Staff Focus: Kimberly-Ann Wilson, Speech-Language Pathologist, Mount Hebron High School

Kimberly-Ann Wilson describes the role of a speech-language pathologist as “working to enhance learning and quality of life opportunities, while developing individualized abilities for lifelong success to communicate within the world.” As the sole speech-language pathologist at Mount Hebron High School, Wilson works regularly with 48 students, in the classroom or one-on-one, who need support […]

Staff Focus: Muhammad Bilal, paraeducator, Running Brook Elementary School

A chance encounter led to a life-changing job for Muhammad Bilal. Now a paraeducator at Running Brook, Muhammad has worked his way up at the school and is even going back to school himself. “Mr. B,” as he’s known at Running Brook is changing his life for the better, while helping students better themselves.

Ken MacGregor, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Mayfield Woods Middle School

Ken MacGregor is both a teacher and wrestling coach at Mayfield Woods Middle School. He has been with the school for 23 years, his entire career. MacGregor follows the same philosophy when teaching or coaching, saying, “We have to set up an environment that’s safe for the kids that they want to come to. I […]

Staff Focus: Annette Thomas, First Grade Teacher, Forest Ridge Elementary School

Annette Thomas is a first grade teacher at Forest Ridge Elementary School as well as her grade level’s math leader. Thomas describes teaching first grade with, “I do a little bit of everything all day. Especially in first grade, a large part of my day is teaching children how to read, teaching children math, but […]

Staff Focus: Ginger Kincaid, Varsity Field Hockey Coach, Glenelg High School

Ginger Kincaid won more than 400 games during her tenure as Glenelg High School’s varsity field hockey coach. Players indicated that Coach Kincaid’s high expectations, combined with her ability to motivate the team, helped fuel her success. While this season marks her 39th year and her last as head coach, Kincaid plans on continuing to […]

Staff Focus: Jerard Rucker, Special Education Paraeducator, Hammond Elementary School

Jerard Rucker, special education paraeducator at Hammond Elementary School, supports the academic and functional growth of his students who have social, emotional or learning challenges. He works with a select number of first through fifth graders individually or in small groups to ensure they stay on task with assignments while assisting with teachers’ academic instruction.