The Board of Education of Charles County honored five employees at its October 14, 2025, meeting for their contributions to students and operations within Charles County Public Schools. The recipients were Louis Butler, building service manager at Indian Head Elementary School; Brett Gerhart, learning resource teacher at Theodore G. Davis Middle School; Kathleen Lyons, food service manager at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School; Melissa Moreta, secretary to the principal at Billingsley Elementary School; and Deborah Williams, secretary to the principal at Westlake High School. The recognition occurred during the public session at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata, part of the board’s monthly practice to acknowledge staff commitment. The ceremony, lasting about 20 minutes, included presentations by principals and board member interactions, with each honoree receiving a certificate and plaque.
Board Chairwoman Yolanda Wilson and other members congratulated the group, emphasizing the role of support staff in enabling daily school functions. The event followed student recognitions and featured remarks highlighting individual impacts on school environments. Video of the full meeting, including the staff honors starting around 3 hours and 34 minutes, is available on the district’s YouTube channel. According to the official press release, the board selects employees each month who demonstrate dedication to their profession and the system’s goals.
Louis Butler earned praise for maintaining Indian Head Elementary as a safe and welcoming space since taking the building service manager role in 2011. Principal Shane Blandford noted Butler’s team ensures the school is ready daily, achieving superior inspection ratings annually despite challenges like fabric walls and summer programs. “His diligence and attention to detail set a high standard for excellence, and his steady presence provides a sense of trust and reassurance for our school community,” Blandford said. During the meeting, Blandford highlighted Butler’s leadership in training staff and handling construction projects with limited resources. Colleagues described him as reliable, joyful and student-focused in letters read aloud. Board members thanked building service managers for their essential work in opening schools each day. When asked what keeps him motivated, Butler cited his love for the kids, staff and Indian Head community, where the small, family-like atmosphere stands out. He lives in Waldorf but values the school’s environment, noting former students remember him years later. Butler began with the district as a building service worker at Westlake High School, advancing to assistant manager at Thomas Stone High School before his current position. “His ability to make work both productive and fun has fostered a culture of collaboration and pride among his team,” Blandford said. Beyond routine duties, Butler assists teachers, supports events and responds to emergencies. “His contributions make Indian Head Elementary School a better place to learn, work and grow,” Blandford said. In the video, Blandford quoted supervisor April Murphy: “Mr. Butler has always been someone I can count on in any situation. I truly appreciate his opinion and rely on his expertise.” Butler thanked the board, Superintendent Maria Navarro, colleagues and family, emphasizing team effort. Indian Head Elementary, serving about 436 students along the Potomac River, benefits from such maintenance in an area known for community youth programs at sites like Myrtle Point Park.
Brett Gerhart, a learning resource teacher at Davis Middle since the school opened 23 years ago, was recognized for elevating testing and gifted education. Principal Robert Griffiths said Gerhart coordinates schedules while ensuring all voices are heard. “The testing schedule is always a struggle,” Griffiths said. “He works to ensure all voices are heard and takes care of all staff members.” Gerhart has achieved 100% completion on i-Ready assessments and promotes the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program. “He has taken Davis to a new level,” Griffiths said. “Our test scores and the growth can always be connected back to his efforts.” At the meeting, Griffiths praised Gerhart’s rapport with students in hallways and cafeterias, his role on the instructional leadership team and his willingness to step in for administrators. Described as the “most interesting man in the world” for adventures like bow-fishing invasive snakehead and sharing catches with staff, Gerhart coaches archery and soccer. Board members noted his all-in approach to school vision. When asked about his outdoor pursuits, Gerhart explained they provide peace and connection to nature. He thanked his wife for support during his master’s degree and credited Colossians 3:23 for his work ethic. Gerhart previously taught physical education and gifted programs in the district. Davis Middle, with around 800 students in La Plata, follows Maryland’s Project Lead The Way curriculum for engineering, certified by the state education department. This pathway, available since 2018, prepares students for Charles County’s growing tech sector, including jobs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Indian Head, just five miles from the school.
Kathleen Lyons has served as food service manager at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary for six years, following time at McDonough High School. Principal Louis D’Ambrosio called her commitment “unwavering” to student wellbeing. “With years of long-term experience in her position, she has become a cornerstone of daily operations,” he said. “She often goes above and beyond to make breakfast and lunch a bright spot in each student’s day.” Lyons managed meals during the COVID-19 closures and summer programs under the food and nutrition services department. She runs the kitchen efficiently while supporting staff compassionately. “In a small school where all students receive free breakfast and lunch, her contributions have had an immeasurable impact,” D’Ambrosio said. “Not just in feeding minds, but in creating a warm, welcoming environment that supports the whole child. In a community where food resources can be scarce for some of our most needy families, Ms. Lyons ensures all students at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School are well fed, celebrated and loved.” In the video, D’Ambrosio noted her infectious smile and how staff voted her a school treasure. Board members congratulated her on over a decade in the district and joked about meal portions, with Lyons agreeing there should be more chicken nuggets. Lyons, originally from Hackensack, New Jersey, enjoys gardening and riding her Harley Fat Boy motorcycle with her husband, whom she has been with for 24 years and married to for three. She praised Mt. Hope’s community events like fire truck visits and senior Thanksgiving dinners. Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, enrolling about 250 students in rural Nanjemoy near the creek, aligns with Maryland’s free meal provisions for qualifying schools, addressing local needs in Southern Maryland’s agricultural areas.
Melissa Moreta, secretary to Principal Sabrina Robinson-Taylor at Billingsley Elementary, arrives first daily to assist substitutes and manage finances. “She is highly responsive to the needs of staff-often providing solutions before a request is even finished,” Robinson-Taylor said. “Her exceptional attention to detail has ensured clean financial audits, reflecting her strong work ethic and accuracy.” Moreta fills in for absent secretaries or teachers and supported the new secretary at Margaret J. Thornton Elementary during its August opening. She joins school events like Relay for Life, chess club and family nights. “Her willingness to do so demonstrates her team-first mentality, which is especially valuable during the busiest times of arrival, dismissal and lunch shifts,” Robinson-Taylor said. “Her impact extends far and wide. She maintains a calm and welcoming office environment.” At the meeting, Assistant Principal Jasmine Law highlighted Moreta’s spirit day participation, such as dressing as Wonder Woman. Board members praised secretaries for handling diverse tasks under pressure. Moreta shared her resilience as a survivor and motto of “keeping on trucking,” motivated by Billingsley’s great staff and emphasis on touching young lives. She previously worked as a counseling secretary at Westlake High from 2020 to 2022. Billingsley, with roughly 664 students in White Plains, integrates Title I funds for equity in advanced programs.
Deborah Williams supports Principal Dana Fenwick at Westlake High by organizing tasks and ensuring accurate payroll. “Ms. Williams makes all of my dreams come to fruition,” Fenwick said. “Any idea that I come up with, she makes it happen.” Williams decorates for events, shares makeup skills with students and revived the Wolverines Teal Diamond pom squad. She spearheads partnerships with local businesses like Dash In and iNgage Church. Williams trains newcomers, assists with substitutes and covers duties when needed. “Deborah Williams exudes pride in her work every day,” Fenwick said. “She maintains professionalism even when it is not displayed by stakeholders. She takes her job very seriously.” In the video, Fenwick described Williams as the school’s heartbeat, reading a student letter thanking her for coaching and support. Board comments noted her reliability and problem-solving. Williams, who worked three years at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary after private sector experience in Washington, D.C., thrives under pressure despite arthritis, driven by serving others.
