St. Mary's County
Public Schools
Award Nominations
2025-2026 Award Winning Staff
2025-2026 Staff Recognitions
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) recognizes and celebrates the great work done by staff each and every day. Each year, we recognize several employees for their service and dedication to St. Mary’s County Public Schools.
Winners have been selected for the Educational Support Professional of the Year, Outstanding Educator/Teacher of the Year award, and the Leader of Excellence award as follows:
Dominic Carnobas - SMCPS Educational Support Professional of the Year
Wesley McGregor - SMCPS Educational Support Professional of the Year
Kinnon Williams - SMCPS Maryland Teacher of the Year
Dorothy Nelson - Washington Post Teacher of the Year
Bridget Dunbar - SMCPS Leader of Excellence
Julia Steele - Washington Post Principal of the Year
Below is the list of nominees and finalists for each school and office for the 2025-2026 school year.
2025-2026 EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
*FINALISTS
Elementary Schools
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
Christine Hayden*
Music
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School
Kimberly Gray*
General Education
Chesapeake Public Charter School
Christina Dowe
Grade 2
Dynard Elementary School
Kristin Britt
Grade 1
Evergreen Elementary School
McKenna Ellett*
Grade 1
George Washington Carver Elementary School
Senchal Allen
Grade 1
Green Holly Elementary School
Cassandra Smith
Grade 2
Greenview Knolls Elementary School
Sarah Wanamaker*
Grade 3
Hollywood Elementary School
Amanda Wood*
Special Education
Leonardtown Elementary School
Kaitlin Allan
Pre-Kindergarten
Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School
Christine Deibert
Grade 1
Lexington Park Elementary School
Carly Colvin
Grade 4
Mechanicsville Elementary School
Shane Conrad
Physical Education
Oakville Elementary School
Erica Larson
Grade 4 ELA
Park Hall Elementary School
Heather Wise*
Grade 2
Piney Point Elementary School
Kathryn Shepherd*
Special Education
Ridge Elementary School
Shelley Fielder
Music
Town Creek Elementary School
Hollie Metcalf
Instructional Resource Teacher
White Marsh Elementary School
Megan Williams
Grade 3
Secondary Schools
Esperanza Middle School
Angelia Slavings
Grade 7 Social Studies
Leonardtown Middle School
Ashly Bean
Grade 7 ELA
Margaret Brent Middle School
Jennifer True
Grade 7 Math
Spring Ridge Middle School
Dorothy Nelson*
Grade 8 Math/Special Education
Chopticon High School
Heather Kantor*
English
Great Mills High School
Bridget Maddox
Grade 9 Freshman Seminar
Leonardtown High School
Jason Mickley
Grade 9-12
Dr. J A Forrest Career and Technology Center
Kinnon Williams*
Welding
Virtual Academy
Devon O'Brien
English
2025-2026 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
*FINALISTS
Elementary Schools
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
Maria Alvey
Special Education Paraeducator
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School
Amber Gardiner
Paraeducator
Chesapeake Public Charter School
Mary Ann Tomasic*
Career Advisor
Dynard Elementary School
Kenneth Rogers
Safety and Security Specialist
Evergreen Elementary School
Carol Lowmiller
Cafeteria Manager
George Washington Carver Elementary School
Amanda Jennings
Special Education Paraeducator
Green Holly Elementary School
Latoria Armstrong*
Pre-K Special Education Paraeducator
Greenview Knolls Elementary School
Laura Cutshall
Kindergarten Paraeducator
Hollywood Elementary School
Dominic Carnobas*
Special Education Paraeducator
Leonardtown Elementary School
Alison Guy
Pre-K Paraeducator
Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School
Duaine Johnson
Building Service Manager
Lexington Park Elementary School
Khari Hines
School Safety Assistant
Mechanicsville Elementary School
Jennifer Reeder*
Cafeteria Manager
Oakville Elementary School
Theresa McCollum
Special Education Paraeducator
Park Hall Elementary School
Mieka Baker
Building Service Manager
Piney Point Elementary School
Matthew Lewis*
Assistant Building Service Manager
Ridge Elementary School
Vantora Jones*
Building Service Manager
Town Creek Elementary School
Suzanne VerHaagh
Records Secretary
White Marsh Elementary School
April Turner
Dedicated Substitute
Secondary Schools & Central Office
Esperanza Middle School
Cheryl Barnes
Dedicated Substitute
Leonardtown Middle School
Helen Herbert*
Assistant Building Service Manager
Margaret Brent Middle School
Chelsea Stonewall*
Paraeducator
Spring Ridge Middle School
Katrina Mills*
Building Service Manager
Chopticon High School
Jacqueline Somerville
Secretary
Great Mills High School
Sabrina Roberts*
Media Clerk
Leonardtown High School
Mairi Stofferahn
Secretary
Dr. J A Forrest Career and Technology Center
Rebecca Badovski
Front Office Secretary
Virtual Academy
Calin Cociuba*
Computer Support Specialist II
CENTRAL OFFICE
Division of Supporting Services
Wesley McGregor*
Project Coordinator II
Division of Instruction
Sara Renn*
Title I Grant Specialist
2025-2026 LEADER OF EXCELLENCE NOMINEES
ELEMENTARY
Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School
Joseph Farrell
Principal
Mechanicsville Elementary School
Josh Lynch
Principal
Oakville Elementary School
Laurel Anderson
Principal
White Marsh Elementary School
Julia Steele
Principal
SECONDARY
Leonardtown Middle School
Kaci Marschall
Assistant Principal
CENTRAL OFFICE
Central Administration - Moakley Street
Bridget Dunbar
Supervisor of Instruction, Secondary Math
Congratulations to all of our exceptional nominees and finalists!
