PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Zina McGowan-Thomas, Public Information Officer, 301-475-5511, ext. 193

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

LEONARDTOWN, MD – Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michael J. Martirano , announces administrative appointments made by the Board of Education at its meeting of May 14, 2008.

The Board appointed Mr. Garth Bowling, Jr., to the position of principal at Chopticon High School .  He replaces Mr. Joseph North who is retiring at the end of the school year.  Mr. Bowling currently serves as the principal of La Plata High School in the Charles County Public School System where he has also served as principal of McDonough High School, John Hanson Middle School, and Piccowaxen Middle School, and has served as an assistant principal at Benjamin Stoddert and Matthew Henson Middle School.  Prior to becoming a school system administrator, Mr. Bowling taught social studies in Charles, Howard, and Carroll County public schools.  He earned a Master’s degree in secondary education and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Towson State College (now Towson State University ).  This appointment becomes effective July 1, 2008.

Ms. Kim Summers was appointed to the position of principal at the new Evergreen Elementary School scheduled to open in August 2009.  Ms. Summers has served as the principal of Dynard Elementary School in Chaptico, MD , since 2001, and will continue to serve in this capacity until May 1, 2009.  Under her leadership, Dynard has won several awards at the county and state levels.  Ms. Summers, who joined the school system in 1988, also served as an assistant principal at Oakville Elementary School , an instructional resource teacher at Oakville and Dynard Elementary Schools, and a classroom teacher at Mechanicsville and Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary Schools .  She earned a Master’s degree in education from the University of Maryland , and a Bachelor’s degree in human development from St. Mary’s College.  This appointment becomes effective May 1, 2009.

Additionally, the Board named Ms. Courtnay Mohammed to the position of 10-month school psychologist in the Department of Pupil Services.  Ms. Mohammed is currently serving in a supervised internship experience in school psychology with Montgomery County Public Schools in MD.  Her experience also includes completing a supervised practicum experience and a supervised field experience in school psychology with the Oceanside Unified School District in CA. In addition, Ms. Mohammed has had psychology-related articles published in numerous publications and has served as a presenter at national conferences.  She obtained an educational specialist degree in school psychology and a Master of Arts degree in education/counseling, both from San Diego State University , and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Towson University . This appointment becomes effective July 1, 2008.

The Board also named Ms. Jessica Bowser to the position of 10-month school psychologist in the Department of Pupil Services. Ms. Bowser currently serves as a school psychology intern with Alexandria City Public Schools in VA.  Her experience also includes serving as an adjunct faculty member with the Community College of Allegheny County; a teaching associate and graduate assistant with Indiana University of Pennsylvania; a research specialist/ADHD care manager with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; and a research assistant and America Reads literacy promoter with The Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Bowser earned her Master’s degree in education/school psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor’s degrees in biobehavioral health from The Pennsylvania State University. This appointment becomes effective July 1, 2008.