Adam is a lifelong learner and dedicated teacher. In his pursuit of higher education and expanding
his own horizons, he has traveled broadly across the United States, Europe, and South Asia. He
holds a B.A. in world music from Bowling Green State University, an M.A. in in South Asian Studies
from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia.

After studying middle level education with a concentration in math and a minor in TESOL from Messiah College, Allison acquired her first teaching job in Montgomery County Public Schools as a middle school mathematics teacher.

Akro is currently a Ph.D. student at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Maryland. His current research focuses on predictive maintenance of naval vessels. Akro has had many years of teaching experience

Brooke has worked hard to discover and improve teaching methods for a continually changing youth for the last thirteen years as an educator. Presently, she is an Instructional Coach and Resource Room Teacher at The Langley School in McClean, VA.

Catherine Murray received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at York College of PA. She recently earned her master's degree in Reading Education from Towson University. Catherine has been a classroom teacher in MCPS for the past five years. She is currently teaching 1st grade Special Education and she has previously taught middle school Special Education for 6th and 8th grade, co-teaching math.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Elliott has traveled widely to pursue his career in higher education. He moved first to St. Paul, Minnesota to attend Macalester College, with brief stints abroad at the Goethe Institute in Berlin, as well as King’s College in London.

Heather was an elementary special education teacher and phonics specialist at a charter school in Boston for 7 years until the pandemic hit. Now she’s at home with her two little boys. She has degrees from Smith College and Lesley University and is a certified Orton Gillingham instructor. Heather loves helping students find books they love and watching their excitement as they discover the joy of reading.

Jessica is a Teach for America alumna and a current MCPS English teacher. She teaches 10th Grade Honors English, AP Language and Composition, and Creative Writing.

Lauren loves helping students through the writing process and working alongside them as they improve their skills and confidence! She begins each session by collaborating with the student on the goal or take-away, and ends with an assignment and accountability plan.

Maggie is a 3rd-5th grade reading and writing specialist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University in 2013 and an ESL certification while teaching in Texas. She taught all subjects in the 3rd and 4th grade, but spent most of her time in the English/language arts.

Meredith Alaina, Ed.D, native New Yorker and current NOVA resident has a background in education that spans twenty-five years with a foundation in non-profit management and English classroom instruction in The Bronx and Brooklyn, NY

Reilly has been teaching middle school science in MCPS for 6 years. She graduated from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Biology and minors in Chemistry and UFTeach (education). In addition, she holds a master's degree from UF in Secondary Science Education that focused on internships and long term substitute positions in higher level sciences. She is certified to teach 6-12 science and has also taught summer school math for Montgomery County.

Scott has been a classroom teacher for the better part of two decades. In this time, he has worked with thousands of students grade 7 through grade 12. These learners have had a diverse set of academic and emotional needs. Supporting the individual needs of each learner is Scott’s primary objective.

Stephanie Lee Rizas is currently an IB History teacher with MCPS but has years of experience teaching all levels of History, writing, and ESL as well as experience with students with organizational challenges. She is passionate about activating the potential in every student through an individualized approach to learning.

Usoshi is a doctoral student in the department of Environmental Science and Technology at University of Maryland. She has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University in Food and Biological Engineering and is interested in learning various ways to incorporate sustainable systems.

Alexia Chatfield is a secondary ELA teacher in Montgomery County. She grew up in the DMV area and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Upon graduation, Alexia continued her studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Andrea is a Montgomery County native and is currently a reading specialist at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington, Maryland. She received her Masters of Science in Reading from Johns Hopkins University and she completed her BA Undergraduate program in Early Childhood Education at Clemson University

Ashley is entering her tenth year teaching! After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master’s Degree in Secondary Education, she taught a variety of English classes at Montgomery College. Having graduated from MCPS, she was eager to teach in the county where she was raised.

Casey Smith attended the University of Maryland where she earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematics as well as a graduate degree in Secondary Education. She is certified to teach grades 7-12 and currently works for Montgomery County Public Schools as a high school math teacher. Casey currently teaches Algebra I, Algebra II, and AP Statistics.

Caylin Capra-Thomas is a writer and educator pursuing a PhD in English from the University of Missouri, where she has been recognized with the William Peden Award for Outstanding Teaching of Creative Writing. She has a BA in English from the University of Vermont and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana.

Gavin has taught every grade from kindergarten through the sophomore year of college, and in locations as diverse and distant as New England and Peru. He has an Ed. M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Jamie grew up in New Rochelle, New York right outside of the city. Jamie has enjoyed teaching for 5 years now in Montgomery County. She graduated from American University with a degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics.

Joyce has taught English for 16 years in MCPS (almost every single grade from 6-12). She has also taught all levels, from inclusion to IB Literature and Language, and she is very passionate about helping students excel since the skills needed for English class are the same skills students will need their whole lives as they become effective communicators.

Leslie has been an MCPS educator for 30 years teaching students from dozens of different countries and backgrounds. She is certified to teach K-12 English Language Development and Secondary English and Spanish

He has been with MCPS for 14 years, spending 5 of those years teaching Grade 6. In the past, he has taught Grades 3,4,5, and 7. Currently, he teaches Grade 6 Reading and Earth Science.

Michael is an MCPS math teacher currently at Tilden Middle School. He is certified to teach math in grades 7-12 and has experience with Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Michael attended the University of Maryland where he received an Undergraduate degree in Mathematics and a Graduate degree in Secondary Education.

Ryan is currently in his third year as a high school Spanish teacher in MCPS. A native of Montgomery County, Ryan completed the Spanish Immersion program in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster; he continued with the language at Muhlenberg College, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and in Education

After studying education at Brown University, Seth began his teaching career working with 5-8 year olds in summer programs inspired by the Reggio Emilia model, and went on to teach students at nearly every grade level, including nine years of full-time classroom teaching experience in English Language Arts, social studies, Spanish, PE and science

Taylor Renaud grew up in New England and moved to Washington, DC 9 years ago. She has enjoyed teaching for over ten years and is currently a 7th grade math teacher at the Langley School in McLean, VA. Taylor attended the University of New Hampshire where she earned a B.S. in Math Education and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education

Yosohadara Rivera was born and raised in Camuy, a coastal town in Puerto Rico. She has been a language teacher in Montgomery County Public School for three years but started as a Spanish Teacher in Puerto Rico nineteen years ago

Alison Deli has been involved in education for most of her adult life. She has earned degrees in English as well as Curriculum and Educational Studies which allowed her to find time to work with high schools students in writing, reading, and organazational strategies.

April grew up in Westchester, New York right outside of the city. April has enjoyed teaching for the past 5 years in a non-public school in Maryland, Alaska and now in Montgomery County Public Schools

Betsy Durning, a distinguished educator with over thirty years of experience, has served as an English teacher, department head, and dean at a number of prestigious schools, including St. Paul’s School in NH, The Hotchkiss School in CT, St. George’s School in RI, and The Kinkaid School in TX

Catherine Angowski is a kindergarten teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. She is certified to teach Pre-K through 6th grade and Special Education K-6. Catherine began her teaching career in Special Education teaching kindergarten and fifth grade, but then switched to general education teaching kindergarten. She loves watching her students grow throughout the year. She enjoys teaching reading to the younger students and teaching math to the older students. A fun fact about her is that she taught in the Philippines for a short period of time.

Dr. Sharon Blumenthal-Cohen has worked in education for over 25 years teaching students from middle school through graduate school. She holds a BA in English education, an MA in literature, and an EdD in curriculum and instruction.

Giancarlo is completing his sixth year as an English teacher. While he spent two years teaching English across the bridge in Wicomico County, Montgomery County has always been his home. Now finishing up his second year at Walter Johnson High School, Giancarlo specializes in 9th grade Honors English, but he also has experience teaching 11th and 12th Grade English, with a focus on close reading skills and argumentative writing

Jess grew up in Montgomery County and recently graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Political Science and minors in Journalism Practice and Criminal Justice. Throughout her time at Northeastern, she worked at the Mayor of Boston's Press Office, the Northeastern School of Law, and a local Boston public affairs company called the Novus Group

Lana holds a teaching credential in Social Science and English Literature for grades 6 through 12, and she has taught middle school and high school English and History. Lana graduated with a Masters of Science in Energy and Resources from the University of California at Berkeley, where she also completed PhD coursework in history

Lisa helps students find the best fit using tools to identify a list of schools, review high school transcripts/advise on course selections, support students as they write their college essay/supplemental essays/scholarship essays/honors program essays, navigate the Common App

Megan has 13 years of Elementary teaching experience in both public and independent school settings. She has a BA in Architectural Studies from William Smith College, and a MA in Elementary Education from Marymount University

Rebecca Poyatt holds a BA in history education from The Catholic University of America and both a Masters in children’s literature and language arts and an Education Specialist degree in educational theory and practice from the University of Georgia

Ryan Elias is a 1st grade teacher at Green Acres School in North Bethesda. She received her BA from Scripps College in Claremont, CA in Art History, and her MS from Bank Street College of Education in NYC with a dual degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education.

Shaina is a Senior Producer at a national public radio show called Snap Judgment. In addition to Snap Judgment, her stories have been distributed by outlets including Public Radio International, National Public Radio, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and many others

Tom Birner currently teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at Evergreen Academy in Annandale, Virginia. During the school year he also teaches at the GDS 360, the Georgetown Day School's after-school program